National Renewable Energy Laboratory Seeks Intern to Support Tribal Work

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is accepting applications for a year-round student internship supporting the laboratory’s work to foster clean energy development on tribal lands. 

Located in Golden, Colorado, NREL applies its world-class science and analytics expertise to advance the development and deployment of clean energy technologies on tribal lands by partnering with Native American Tribes and Alaska Native villages, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy, and other federal agencies, nonprofits, and intertribal organizations.

Applicants should have a technical background that provides a foundation for their participation in scientific analysis of tribal energy data, renewable energy potential, renewable energy project financing, and energy efficiency options. Course work and experience in engineering, finance, environmental science, public policy, economics, and statistics are highly applicable to the position. Because interns will work cross-culturally with federally recognized tribes, experience working in multicultural environments is a requirement.

The job will consist of supporting three areas of focus: strategic energy planning, technical assistance, and analytical studies. 

• Strategic Energy Planning
  The tribal intern will support the tribal strategic energy planning team by providing background research on participating tribes. This research includes, but is not limited to, analysis of tribal energy data, analysis of state energy policies, and analysis of renewable energy resource data. There may also be opportunities to assist with strategic energy planning workshops on tribal lands, so a willingness to travel is preferable. 
   
• Technical Assistance
  The tribal intern will be responsible for tracking the status of open technical assistance requests and scoping technical assistance activities with tribal stakeholders. The intern may also provide technical assistance to tribes depending on tribal needs and the intern’s skill set.  
   
• Studies
  The tribal intern will support in-depth tribal research projects, including conducting background research and analysis and writing technical reports.

Preferred Qualifications

Backgrounds in engineering, finance, environmental science, public policy, economics or statistics are encouraged. Applicants must be personable, professional, and comfortable engaging with tribal, federal, state, and local stakeholders; possess excellent critical thinking, communication, research, analysis, and writing skills; and be able to develop ideas and solutions based on novel or unconventional approaches. The ability to apply individual initiative to accomplish tasks based on limited or partial information is essential, and knowledge of clean energy policies is strongly recommended. The ideal candidate will be culturally aware and sensitive to the needs and challenges of tribal populations.  

How to Apply

NREL is eager to fill this position as soon as possible. To learn more and apply, visit www.nrel.gov/employment and search for requisition number R1173.