Generation Sector Student Internship: Materials and Energy Systems Student Employee

Job Title:

Generation Sector Student Internship: Materials and Energy Systems Student Employee

Location:

Charlotte, NC

Job Summary and Description:

EPRI was ranked the #4 internship program within the Energy & Renewables industry in 2025 according to Vault!

EPRI’s Generation Sector focuses on a wide spectrum of research and development (R&D) across all thermal and renewables sources of power generation. The research supports EPRI’s mission of delivering independent, objective thought leadership and industry expertise to help the energy sector identify issues, technology gaps, and broader needs that can be addressed for the benefit of society. Research may include materials science, water technologies, digitalization, cyber security, turbomachinery, wind, solar, or hydro power (renewables), non-battery energy storage (chemical, mechanical, and thermal), carbon capture and sequestration, hydrogen economies and technologies at-scale, environmental sciences, etc.

Students working in the summer semester will typically work at the EPRI Charlotte location, with some positions specific to a laboratory setting.  Students will take part in the Energy Supply (Generation & Nuclear Sectors) summer student internship program experience.

The summer internship experience provides a technical mentor, training, and social and professional networking opportunities in addition to guided project-focused research work. This unique setting will provide students with rare, but essential practical insight to industry problems and issues and improve links to academic coursework. Other development and social activities in prior years have included:

• Lunch and learns with past interns, current EPRI employees
• Team building activities, for example a trip to the National Whitewater Center
• Tours of local power generation facilities
• EPRI lab tours
• Final presentations by summer student internship employees to their peers, mentors and other EPRI technical staff

Students may be hired into one of many research programs in the Energy Supply to work over the timeframe of May to August. Students who demonstrate exemplary skillsets and learning over this ~12-week period may be asked to work part time after the summer period and/or be invited in subsequent years to extend their exposure to the Energy Sector.

Generation Sector Student Internship: Materials and Energy Systems Student Employee:

This internship supports EPRI's materials and chemistry research in the Generation Sector. The selected candidate will conduct research across a diverse range of challenging projects that may involve one or more of the following: investigation of complex material systems (polymers, composites, ceramics, and/or metals), water treatment, water chemistry in power generation, environmental science/engineering, and applied chemistry.

Projects typically combine hands-on laboratory work at EPRI's Charlotte facilities with data analysis and technical reporting, giving the student direct exposure to how research results inform decisions on component performance, reliability, service life, and environmental compliance across the power generation fleet.

Candidates:

EPRI is looking for exceptionally talented science and engineering students wishing to gain additional experience in the power industry. Typical majors could include, but are not limited to the following:

• Engineering / Science - Materials, Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace / Aeronautical, Welding, Chemical / Chemistry, Computer, Environmental, or similar fields

Typical activities and responsibilities include the following:

• Execute small and well-defined testing programs in the chemistry, high temperature or heat treatment laboratories.
• Develop test plans, conduct testing, and document results under the guidance of technical staff
• Conduct literature surveys and clear documentation of results in written and visual form
• Researching equipment failure modes and effects analysis.
• Work with technical mentors to gain experience in addressing real-world challenges, drivers, and priorities that impact power generation.
• Conduct research and assigned tasks independently, but still be willing to interface with other peers and a technical mentor on a regular basis.

An Ideal Candidate will typically have the following qualifications. Exceptions have been made for students with exemplary background and interviews:

• Students must be prepared to work onsite in the EPRI Charlotte laboratories alongside senior engineering staff
• Be at least starting their junior year (3rd year) in Fall, M.S. or PhD graduate-level students graduating in next 1-2 years are also encouraged to apply.
• Capable and comfortable of handling chemicals
• Working knowledge of core degree areas.
• Willingness to take on new challenges.
• Worked on group projects as part of classes.
• Willingness to work and network with peer student interns at EPRI.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Additional Job Information: