2018 interns at the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority’s 27.5-megawatt solar photovoltaic system. Photo from Sandia National Laboratories
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy, Sandia National Laboratories is now accepting applications for a 12-week internship based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Interns will gain first-hand experience with existing tribal energy projects and exposure to issues concerning tribal energy technology use and application.
Current full-time undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are eligible to apply. Successful candidates must also meet the following qualifications:
- Currently attending and enrolled full time (or scheduled to graduate in the spring) in an accredited undergraduate program
- Ability to work up to 40 hours per week during the summer
- U.S. citizenship
- Specific interest in tribal energy.
Over the course of the 12-week internship, interns may:
- Work with existing tribal energy projects and gain exposure to issues concerning energy technology use and application
- Interact with Sandia's energy program staff and American Indian tribes interested in energy systems
- Work directly with experienced peers on energy systems and tribal energy projects
- Travel locally for field visits to current tribal energy projects.
Many factors are considered in the selection of an intern, including interests, academic achievement, and applicable experience, as well as Sandia's workforce needs. Applicants must pass a pre-employment security check (local and federal law enforcement, driver's history, personal references, and education, credit, and employment checks).
The Indian Energy program and internship were instrumental for me in moving from a student perspective to a professional perspective and helping me transition in that way … It was one of the best, if not the best, internship programs I’ve ever been a part of.
Read about the “life-changing” experience of former intern and current DOE contractor Dr. Tommy Jones on the Office of Indian Energy blog. Find out about the work former intern and current engineer Nick Johnson is now doing at the National Wind Technology Center, including how his tribal energy internship shaped his career.
The application period closes March 1, 2019. For more details on application requirements, please view the Office of Indian Energy college student internship page.