Qureos Mentor

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

<div><div>Posting Title</div>
Graduate (3-month) Intern - Escaped Waste (New Orleans Based)<div>
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Location</div>
Remote<div>
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Position Type</div>
Intern (Fixed Term)<div>
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Hours Per Week</div>
20<div>
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Working at NLR</div><div></div><div>
Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.</div><div></div><div>
At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.</div><div></div><div>
Job Description</div><div><div>
We are partnering with a municipal Sewage and Water Board to understand and quantify the costs of escaped waste at the city level. This case study will examine the broader financial impacts of escaped waste while also developing an economic baseline of direct city expenditures for managing plastic debris. By revealing costs beyond what appears in municipal budgets, including impacts on outcomes, and infrastructure systems, this research will inform what solutions and technologies may need to be developed to mitigate these issues.<br>
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The intern will implement EPA's Escaped Trash Assessment Protocol, conducting systematic walking surveys across neighborhoods to collect ground-truth data on escaped waste, and facilitate stakeholder engagement sessions with city departments, local businesses and residents to understand the full breadth of escaped waste&rsquo;s influence on operating budgets and city systems. The intern will help translate findings into reports, presentations, and one-pagers that communicate results to diverse audiences from city officials to community members.</div><div></div><div>
This role offers opportunities to conduct dissertation-level research examining how escaped waste affects municipal operating budgets in previously unconsidered ways; pioneer methodologies for quantifying economic costs often excluded from traditional analyses; build expertise in cost assessment and community-engaged research; and develop stakeholder facilitation skills valuable for academic and applied careers. The intern will create portfolio-worthy deliverables that could inform publications while contributing data to a national-scale EPA initiative. Our team fosters collaboration across disciplines and sectors and provides mentorship supporting both the research and professional development goals of a graduate student intern.</div><div></div><div>
In-person presence in New Orleans is imperative for conducting field surveys and stakeholder engagement sessions.</div></div><div>
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Basic Qualifications</div>
Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.<br>
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Undergraduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a bachelor&rsquo;s degree program from an accredited institution.<br>
Post Undergraduate: Earned a bachelor&rsquo;s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.<br>
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Graduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a master&rsquo;s degree program from an accredited institution.<br>
Post Graduate: Earned a master&rsquo;s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.<br>
Graduate + PhD: Completed master&rsquo;s degree and enrolled as PhD student from an accredited institution.<br>
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Please Note:<br>
<ul><li>Applicants are responsible for uploading official or unofficial school transcripts, as part of the application process.</li><li>If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process.</li><li>Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.</li></ul><div></div><ul><li>Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.</li></ul><div></div><div>
Additional Required Qualifications</div><ul><li>
Currently enrolled in PhD program in Environmental Studies, Environmental Policy, Environmental Science, or related field</li><li>
Demonstrated experience with waste management, manufacturing, and/or recycling initiatives (through coursework, research, or professional work)</li><li>
Field research experience with data collection protocols and methodologies</li><li>
Strong stakeholder engagement skills with ability to facilitate conversations across diverse groups</li><li>
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate technical information for non-technical audiences</li><li>
Self-directed work style with ability to manage field work independently</li><li>
Physical ability to conduct surveys in varied urban environments</li><li>
Must be available to conduct monthly in person surveys within city limits</li></ul><div></div><div>
Preferred Qualifications</div><ul><li><div>
PhD research focus on waste systems, environmental policy, environmental studies</div></li><li><div>
Direct experience with EPA programs, protocols, or tools (particularly Trash Free Waters, ETAP, or Escaped Trash Risk Map)</div></li><li><div>
Previous experience working in New Orleans or deep familiarity with the city's neighborhoods, challenges, and community landscape</div></li><li><div>
Previous municipal government experience</div></li><li><div>
Experience with waste characterization studies or litter assessment methodologies</div></li><li><div>
Experience developing public-facing educational materials, one-pagers, or presentations</div></li><li><div>
Familiarity with GIS/mapping tools (ArcGIS) for spatial data visualization</div></li><li><div>
Experience with community-based participatory research or citizen science</div></li><li><div>
Background in cost assessment, economics, or cost-benefit analysis</div></li><li><div>
Network of established relationships with New Orleans community and municipal stakeholders</div></li></ul><div>
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Job Application Submission Window</div><div>
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.</div><div></div><div>
Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)</div>
Job Profile: / Annual Salary Range: $44,500 - $71,200<div></div><div>
NLR takes into consideration a candidate&rsquo;s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee&rsquo;s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.</div><div></div><div>
Benefits Summary</div>
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits.<div></div><ul><li>Based on eligibility rules</li></ul><div></div><div>
Badging Requirement</div>
NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Intern assignments extending beyond six months will be subject to this requirement.<div></div><div>
Drug Free Workplace</div><div>
NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.</div><div></div><div>
If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.</div><div></div><div>
Submission Guidelines</div><div>
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NLR you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.</div><div></div><div>
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Equal Opportunity Employer</div><div>
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.</div><div></div><div><div>
Reasonable Accommodations</div></div><div></div><div>
E-Verify <div>www.dhs.gov/E-Verify</div> For information about right to work, click <div>here</div> for English or <div>here</div> for Spanish.</div><div>
E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.</div></div>

Graduate (3-month) Intern - Escaped Waste (New Orleans Based)

Join National Renewable Energy Laboratory and explore 1   exciting career opportunities. They're hiring for various roles with options for remote or on-site work. Apply today and become part of their innovative team.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

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Graduate (3-month) Intern - Escaped Waste (New Orleans Based)