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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

National lab advancing energy, security, environment

NSIP PhD Intern - Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics, SWE Conference

Summer 2027Updated Deadline 11/9/26
$24.04 - $36.06/hr
Internship
Seattle, WA, USA+1 moreMore locations: Richland, WA, USA
In PersonOnsite Monday through Thursday; Friday onsite as required by business needs.
AI & Machine LearningApplied Machine Learning
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship Required

About the job

Requirements
  • Candidates must be currently enrolled or matriculated in a PhD program at an accredited college.
  • A minimum GPA of 3.3 is required.
  • Applicants must upload a resume or CV in the Resume section and a separate cover letter in the Additional Documents section titled “AIDA - Summer 2027 NSIP Cover Letter”; the cover letter should state interest and reference relevant college courses and relevant preparatory experience, which may include extracurricular activities.
  • U.S. citizenship is required.
  • Candidates must meet Department of Energy and Battelle restrictions on affiliations with governments of designated countries of risk, or obtain approval before the first day of employment.
  • New employees must obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification credential after a favorable federal background investigation and adjudication. Foreign national candidates who have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years must instead obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only federal risk determination until eligible for the credential.
Responsibilities
  • Participate in an internship within one of six technical groups: Math, Statistics, and Data Science; Applied Super Intelligence Systems; Foundational Data Science; Software Engineering and Architectures; Human Centered Computing; or Operational Readiness and Enablement.
  • Work on mathematical modeling, computational statistics, graph and game theory, network science, and uncertainty quantification for complex problems in varied domains, as relevant to the assigned group.
  • Develop hardened and robust models to distill large, fast, distributed, and messy data into knowledge for operational decision processes on sponsor systems, as relevant to the assigned group.
  • Develop new algorithms and tools to address challenges in distilling large, fast, distributed, and messy data into knowledge for sponsors’ decision processes, as relevant to the assigned group.
  • Develop scalable, cloud-first solutions for large data pipelines and analytics delivered to operational sponsor environments, using professional software development practices, Agile methods, code reviews, automated testing, and continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines, as relevant to the assigned group.
  • Use interactive visualizations and automated data analysis to help users gain insights; apply visual design, human-computer interaction, analytic methods, and engineering, as relevant to the assigned group.
  • Develop scalable, cloud-first solutions for large data pipelines and analytics delivered to operational sponsor environments, using Agile practices, code reviews, automated testing, and continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines, as relevant to the assigned group.
  • Begin in one of two cohort sessions and be available to start by and complete the full 10-week program. Cohort 1 runs May 25 through July 30, and Cohort 2 runs June 22 through August 27.
  • Work onsite in Richland or Seattle Monday through Thursday, with Friday onsite as required by business needs.
Desired Qualifications
  • Disciplines of interest include Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, Super Intelligence, Machine Learning, Software Engineering, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Operations Research, Information Technology, Human-Computer Interaction, User Experience Design, Geospatial Science, Cognitive Science with a computational focus, Systems Engineering, Project Management, and Management Information Systems.

About the company

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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) conducts scientific research in chemistry, Earth sciences, biology, and data science to advance energy resiliency and national security. Its work spans designing and running experiments, developing models and simulations, and analyzing large data sets to generate knowledge and practical tools that help improve energy systems, environmental stewardship, and security. PNNL differentiates itself through its interdisciplinary approach across multiple scientific domains and its role as a government-funded national lab focused on real-world challenges, enabling collaborations with industry, academia, and government partners. Its goal is to produce actionable scientific insights and deployable technologies that strengthen national resilience and energy infrastructure.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Richland, WA

Founded

1965

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • PNNL won Genesis Mission work in 2026 across cleanup, weather, and energy.
  • September 2026 brought grid-monitoring commercialization, nuclear restart support, and Georgia Tech partnership expansion.
  • PNNL’s $35.0 billion contract ceiling and $4.1 billion backlog support long-duration hiring and research.

What critics are saying

  • Battelle cut 68 PNNL jobs in November 2025, signaling funding volatility.
  • The prime contract ends September 30, 2027, forcing renewal risk against DOE priorities.
  • PNNL depends on one customer, and any DOE budget shift hits the entire operation.

What makes Pacific Northwest National Laboratory unique

  • Deb Gracio leads PNNL’s 6,043-person, $1.66 billion DOE lab from Richland, Washington.
  • PNNL spans chemistry, Earth science, biology, and data science under one federal platform.
  • PNNL converts research into deployable tools, from Abaco memory systems to WRAPT wildfire mapping.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Wellness Program
  • Mental Health Support
  • Tuition Reimbursement

Company News

Life Science Washington
Oct 27th, 2026
New facility at washington National lab will give researchers free access to automated tools.

New facility at washington National lab will give researchers free access to automated tools. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has broken ground on a first-of-its-kind autonomous biosciences facility in Richland, scheduled to open in 2029. The publicly accessible lab will use more than 100 automated instruments to accelerate microbial research, enabling scientists from academia, industry, and government to study microbes at unprecedented scale and speed.

Spot On Washington
Oct 14th, 2026
PNNL to Break Ground on Revolutionary New Labratory North of Richland

PNNL to Break Ground on Revolutionary New Labratory North of Richland New breakthrough lab to be built at PNNL Richland Continue reading... |!| Pasco Richland

American Nuclear Society
Oct 7th, 2026
GAIN announces fourth round of 2026 vouchers.

GAIN announces fourth round of 2026 vouchers. This week, the Department of Energy's Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) announced three fourth-round fiscal year 2026 vouchers to support the development of innovative nuclear technologies. Each company will get access to specific capabilities and expertise in the DOE's national laboratory complex - in this round of awards, Oak Ridge, Argonne, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories are named - and will be responsible for a minimum 20 percent cost share, which can be an in-kind contribution. The awardees: One company is developing a gasket for use with high-temperature molten salts, one is validating its microreactor design, and one is testing a process for water restoration at uranium mining sites. BNNT Materials, of Newport News, Va., will collaborate with ORNL to demonstrate that its boron nitride nanotube (BNNT)-based gaskets can "withstand molten fluoride and chloride salts while maintaining sealing performance, chemical stability, and durability under reactor-relevant conditions," according to its proposal. Utilizing ORNL's facilities and expertise, the company plans to test high-temperature exposure, leakage, permeability, thermal cycling, and material compatibility with the goal of developing a more durable gasket that could reduce leakage, maintenance, and costly downtime for high-temperature molten salt systems. Tam Fortis Solutions, of Marina Del Ray, Calif., will collaborate with Argonne to validate computational models of its microreactor design before finalizing the design for a zero-power criticality test. Argonne also will partner with the company to "evaluate operating and transient conditions, assess heat-pipe and moderator behavior, and identify uncertainties," the proposal said. Ur-Energy USA, of Casper, Wyo., will collaborate with PNNL to test selected apatite-based formulas to determine the ability to sequester heavy metals for water restoration following in situ recovery (ISR) uranium mining, with the goal of developing a treatment method that will reduce time, cost, and environmental impact of mining operations. In April, the company announced it had begun ISR operations at its Shirley Basin uranium mining site in central Wyoming.

Ocean News & Technology
Oct 5th, 2026
DOE selects 14 projects for Hydropower Testing Network vouchers.

DOE selects 14 projects for Hydropower Testing Network vouchers. * 5 October 2026 * Edited By: Lauren Ernst The US Department of Energy's (DOE's) Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office (H2O) selected 14 hydropower projects to begin negotiations on vouchers for in-kind support through the Hydropower Testing Network (HyTN). Working with one of HyTN's 21 testing facilities, voucher recipients will improve the readiness of their hydropower technologies. "By pairing industry innovators with leading US test facilities and technical expertise, HyTN accelerates the development of next-generation technologies that keep hydropower reliable and abundant," said H2O Director Nichole Fitzgerald. Hydropower remains an important pillar of America's energy mix, accounting for nearly 6% of the country's total utility-scale electricity generation. Modernizing existing hydropower plants and implementing new technologies will help the United States meet its growing energy demand and drive down energy prices. By providing access to a wide range of testing capabilities, HyTN accelerates the development of hydropower innovations and helps ensure the United States can maintain and grow its hydropower systems in accordance with President Trump's Executive Order 14154, Unleashing American Energy. This is the second round of selections from HyTN, which offers access to more than 65 specialized physical testing and modeling capabilities ranging from hydraulic and biological testing to techno-economic analysis. The technology developers selected for this cohort have been matched with these capabilities, pending negotiations, based on their testing needs. The 14 selected projects are: * Dry Surface Technologies, LLC, based in Guthrie, Oklahoma, will work alongside Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to scale up the production of a non-toxic antifouling coating to a pilot-scale manufacturing process, providing a less expensive, non-toxic alternative for preventing clogged components, and reducing facility repairs. * Emrgy, Inc., based in Atlanta, Georgia, will demonstrate the prototype of a low-head turbine technology platform designed to generate energy from man-made water infrastructure like irrigation canals. * GenH, Inc., based in Somerville, Massachusetts, will test a rapidly deployable, low-impact technology to generate electricity from existing non-powered dams at the University of Minnesota. Results will inform a predictive framework that will help quickly design custom systems for different dams. * Hydro Green Energy, LLC, based in Birmingham, Alabama, will work with the National Laboratory of the Rockies to develop a grid-focused economic analysis for a pumped storage hydropower project at an existing dam and reservoir, facilitating advancement towards licensing and construction. * Kingsbury, Inc., based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is investigating an advanced thermoplastic polymer as a possible bearing material for use in hydropower generators, continuing its work with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) from the first round of HyTN. * Nucleic Sensing Systems, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, will validate its real-time environmental DNA (eDNA) sensor, which monitors water for the presence of fresh, dissolved eDNA and distinguishes it from stale or transported eDNA. * Prometheus Innovations, LLC, based in Lafayette, Louisiana, will continue their work from the first round of HyTN, collaborating with PNNL to assess a coating that prevents harmful aquatic growth like invasive mussels and brown algae. * Prometheus Innovations, LLC will also work with PNNL to test an underwater net coating that can attract or repel fish to prevent them from swimming into water intake structures. * Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County, based in Wenatchee, Washington, will evaluate self-lubricating, grease-free wicket gate stem bushings at PNNL's tribological test facility, determining its effectiveness for upgrading hydropower infrastructure. * Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County will also work with PNNL to validate a low-temperature "cold spray" technique to repair worn hydropower turbine components on-site without using heat. * Radmantis, based in Toledo, Ohio, will use Verdantas' Fish Passage Survival and Behavior Steel Testing Flume Facility to continue their work from the first round of HyTN, evaluating whether mechanically guided fish entrainment improves AI-based selective fish passage at hydropower facilities. * RCAM Technologies, Inc. DBA Sperra, based in Boulder, Colorado, will work with Polaris EcoSystems to advance a 3D-printed subsea pumped storage hydropower system that stores electricity in hollow concrete spheres on the seafloor. * University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory, based in Seattle, Washington, will collaborate with PNNL to assess the reliability and durability of a small, low-cost sensor designed to monitor water quality for hydropower and pumped storage facilities in a more economically feasible way. * VBASE Oil Company, based in Pendleton, South Carolina, will continue their work from the first round of HyTN, collaborating with ORNL to test a lubricant for use in hydropower facilities. The HyTN voucher opportunity is funded by H2O and managed by ENERGYWERX in partnership with DOE, a collaboration made possible through a partnership intermediary agreement set up by DOE's Office of Technology Commercialization. Don't miss the headlines. ON&T's top news, every week. More in Energy

Macallan Communications
Sep 14th, 2026
PNNL, SEPA jointly provide new interactive map showing state-by-state wildfire legislation.

PNNL, SEPA jointly provide new interactive map showing state-by-state wildfire legislation. Toward enabling states to see how other states are tackling wildfire risks to the grid, the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) have teamed up on a new interactive map that provides a nationwide view of state-by-state wildfire legislation. The Wildfire Regulation and Policy Tracker (WRAPT) shows what topics are prioritized over time, which states are pursuing which wildfire mitigation strategies, which measures passed or failed, and where an agency has stepped in to create a comparable statewide requirement. "Wildfire risks for utilities were once a Western issue but are now a national issue and moving fast," said Rebecca O'Neil, advisor for electricity infrastructure at PNNL. "States across the country can benefit from an interactive tool like WRAPT - from states in the West as they consider policy options and interactions, states in the Midwest as they consider best practices and get in front of this issue as it arrives, and states in the East adapting this playbook as they balance utility investment against the threat of wildfire." Research shows that in 2025, states considered more wildfire-related legislation than they had during the previous 10 years combined. While PNNL had already been tracking legislation data in a much simpler dataset over the last year, SEPA last spring launched its own review of state legislation for its Wildfire Technology Roadmap. After a chance encounter with the PNNL team at a conference and comparing notes, SEPA saw an opportunity to transform PNNL's dataset into an interactive map. WRAPT shows users a broader, more accessible view of state-by-state wildfire legislation. Currently, the map shows 44 legislative and regulatory actions across 18 states. PNNL and SEPA plan to update the map as new actions are introduced. "SEPA has spent years helping the industry make sense of the policy shifts reshaping the grid, and wildfire governance is now one of the fastest-moving fronts," said Jared Leader, SEPA's senior director of Resilience and Global Initiatives. "WRAPT reflects the kind of work SEPA is built for: pairing PNNL's research with our sector perspective to translate policy developments across states into something decision-makers can act on." WRAPT also offers an alternative for those involved in wildfire mitigation planning who would otherwise have to search through hundreds of documents cast in state-specific contexts buried within bill management systems in state legislative sessions, O'Neil said. With WRAPT, users can select a state and quickly see what approaches it has considered. The new map also helps states tackle practical questions: What have other states tried? Which bills became law? Which proposals failed? What issues are regulators addressing? What lessons can be applied directly state-to-state and what would need to be adapted? "The partnership with SEPA is helping move wildfire risk research beyond the laboratory and into the hands of people making decisions," said O'Neil. "The more that state officials and regulators can understand why different states are making different choices, the easier it is for them to interpret and make the right choice for themselves."