Career Opportunities

Summer Internship in Nuclear Science and Security

For over 20 years, LLNL’s Glenn T. Seaborg Institute (GTSI) summer internship programs have offered graduate students the opportunity to engage in practical research experience to further their educational goals.

The goal of the program is to facilitate the training of next-generation scientists to solve critical national problems in the fields of nuclear science and security. For eight weeks, participating graduate and senior undergraduate students will have the opportunity to:

Carry out research under the supervision of a staff scientist
Attend a weekly lecture series
Interact with other students
Present their work in poster format at the end of the program
Meet federal sponsors from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), an agency that enables the Department of Defense and the U.S. government to ensure nuclear deterrence and to prepare for and combat weapons of mass destruction and improvised threats.

Dates

June 14–August 6, 2021

Location

LLNL, Livermore, CA—40 miles east of San Francisco.

Note that this assignment is for a full-time position during the summer academic break and will be run remotely with limited in-person opportunities.

Requirements

The successful applicant must be a U.S. citizen and enrolled in or entering an MS or PhD graduate program in 2021. Applicants are required to submit a CV/resume and a 250 word statement of research interests.

In addition, applicants considered for the summer internship will need to provide, upon request, one letter of recommendation and their graduate/undergraduate transcripts.

Financial support

LLNL offers a generous salary depending on year in school and reimbursement for travel to and from LLNL.

Application information

For full consideration, apply for the appropriate job posting on LLNL’s Careers site (keyword search: Seaborg):

Currently enrolled or recently graduated undergraduate students: Job reference number: REF343K
Currently enrolled graduate students: Job reference number: REF366V

Application Deadline: February 12, 2021

Contacts

Keisha Hamilton, GSTI Administrator: hamilton32 [at] llnl.gov
Mavrik Zavarin, GSTI Director: zavarin1 [at] llnl.gov

Program Reports

2019 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2006

Postdoctoral Position

We have an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to develop and pursue innovative research in the analysis of actinide and stable metal isotopes in environmental samples.

The selected postdoc will:

Conduct isotope analysis to investigate the behavior of actinides and to identify and develop stable metal isotopic signatures.
Work with an interdisciplinary group of students, postdocs, and staff scientists.
Apply advanced spectroscopic and analytical techniques to characterize laboratory and field samples and develop conceptual and numerical models of actinide biogeochemistry in the subsurface.

Job ID: 106465

For more information, view the job posting on LLNL’s Careers website.

Additional Opportunities

Visiting Graduate Students & Postdocs

The Seaborg Institute invites graduate students and faculty to come throughout the year to conduct research with staff scientists in the areas of environmental radiochemistry, nuclear forensics, and heavy element research. For more information, please contact Mavrik Zavarin at zavarin1 [at] llnl.gov.

LLNL

Nuclear Science and Security Consortium

The Seaborg Institute invites students from the Nuclear Science and Security Consortium to inquire about unique opportunities available through this consortium.

For more information, please contact Keisha Hamilton at hamilton32 [at] llnl.gov, Stephan Friedrich at friedrich1 [at] llnl.gov, or Mavrik Zavarin at zavarin1 [at] llnl.gov.

DOE Traineeship in Nuclear and Radiochemistry

LLNL is a partner in the DOE Traineeship in Nuclear and Radiochemistry led by Washington State University (WSU) and the Colorado School of Mines (CSM). WSU and CSM radiochemistry trainees are invited to come to LLNL through the Seaborg Institute to conduct hands-on research in the LLNL summer program. For more information, please contact Mavrik Zavarin at zavarin1 [at] llnl.gov.

Consortium for Verification Technology

LLNL is a partner in the Consortium for Verification Technology (CVT) led by the University of Michigan. We welcome students and faculty to inquire about consortium opportunities available at LLNL. For more information, please contact Stephan Friedrich at friedrich1 [at] llnl.gov.

Consortium for Nonproliferation Enabling Capabilities

LLNL is a partner in the Consortium for Nonproliferation Enabling Capabilities (CNEC) led by the North Carolina State University. We welcome students and faculty to inquire about consortium opportunities available at LLNL. For more information, please contact Stephan Friedrich at friedrich1 [at] llnl.gov.

General LLNL Opportunities

Fellowship and internship opportunities are available for students and postdocs throughout the LLNL campus. See the LLNL Students page for additional information and resources.

Opportunities Outside LLNL

Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Summer School

The Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Summer School (NFUSS) provides a comprehensive, hands-on training curriculum in nuclear forensics.

ACS National Nuclear Chemistry Summer Schools

The Division of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology of the American Chemical Society (ACS) sponsors two INTENSIVE six-week Summer Schools in Nuclear and Radiochemistry for undergraduates. The Schools are held at Brookhaven National Laboratory (Eastern Site, Long Island, NY) and San Jose State University (Western Site, San Jose, CA). Funding is provided by the US Department of Energy. The Summer School program at San Jose State University includes a field trip to LLNL.

Nuclear Analytical Techniques Summer School

The Nuclear Analytical Techniques (NAT) summer school, located at UC Davis, consists of some lectures, but mostly hands-on activities involving nuclear analytical techniques. Students will perform Neutron Activation Analysis using the McClellan Nuclear Research Center, study proton elastic scattering at the Crocker cyclotron facility, gain experience and skills in counting with NaI and HPGe crystals, and learn about detectors and analysis techniques important across a broad range of science and industry.

NNSA Graduate Fellowship Program

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Graduate Fellowship Program (NGFP) is a full-time, salaried fellowship program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy for highly motivated graduate-level students interested in a career in nuclear security.

The DHS Nuclear Forensics Research Award

The Nuclear Forensics Research Award (NFRA) supports the establishment of a team to conduct advanced research in the field of nuclear forensics. The NFRA team includes university faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and a national or defense laboratory partner.

The Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program

The Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program (SCGSR) program is intended to prepare graduate students for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) careers critically important to the DOE Office of Science mission, by providing graduate thesis research opportunities at DOE laboratories. The SCGSR program provides awards to outstanding U.S. graduate students to pursue part of their graduate thesis research at a DOE laboratory/facility in areas that address scientific challenges central to the Office of Science mission. The research opportunity is expected to advance the graduate student’s overall doctoral thesis while providing access to the expertise, resources, and capabilities available at the DOE laboratories/facilities.