NREL postdoctoral researcher Barbara Hughes works on time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy in the Laser Lab at NREL's Solar Energy Research Facility as part of the Research Participant Program
Barbara Hughes grew up and attended high school less than 20 miles from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and earned her doctorate at the nearby University of Colorado (CU) in Boulder—so it may not be too surprising that she has gravitated to the lab.
She's currently in NREL's Research Participant Program (RPP) pursuing battery research—her second stint at the lab. The RPP offers opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers to work at the lab under the mentorship of experts in solar and wind energy, biofuels, building technologies, and other fields.
Earlier, while at CU, Hughes worked part time with renowned NREL scientist Art Nozik on quantum dots and an innovative approach to boosting the efficiency of photovoltaic solar cells. Realizing that the more she learned across disciplines, the more marketable she would be in her field, Hughes applied last year for a highly competitive RPP postdoc position that gave her the opportunity to join a lithium-ion battery project. She's investigating fundamental charge transfer in electrode materials.
"So far, the RPP program has provided an invaluable opportunity to work in a new research area beyond the scope of my graduate work,"Hughes said. "NREL is a very friendly place," she added, "but when I was working with quantum dots, I didn't venture much out of that area. Now that I'm in batteries, I'm bridging the two fields, helping bring together scientists who otherwise wouldn't work together. People are very open if you come to them with ideas. The staff scientists here are so open to teaching you something new."
Those sorts of experiences are repeated again and again. From the lab's viewpoint, the RPP is a chance to bring in young scientists and engineers who show promise and are eager to learn, and emerge from a competitive application process ready to contribute to an important project. Participants can potentially propose a research project that intrigues NREL scientists or engineers.
"NREL recruits the brightest minds from university campuses through a competitive process," said Talent Management and Acquisition Manager Kim Gutierrez. "These students and recent graduates are able to work on cutting-edge research projects that will impact the world. They work hard for the opportunity to collaborate with world-renowned researchers at a national lab."
The RPP offers chances to:
-Work with world-class experts on ground breaking research that may yield patentable results
-Engage in innovative Energy Department initiatives
-Display their brainpower—and just as importantly, their collegiality and willingness to work as part of a team
-Work across disciplines, leveraging their skills in one area to become an important player in a bigger project
-Gain an edge for a job in industry or academia with access to more than 200 industry partners
-Potentially publish their work in peer-reviewed journals.
"The postdocs and interns may find career paths within NREL or build a career at other national laboratories, industry, or academia, carrying with them the advantage of having gained national lab experience," RPP and University Relations Coordinator Danelle Hutton said.
Internships are open to undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled full-time in a U.S. college or university, have successfully completed at least the freshman year of school by May of the application year, and also plan to continue full-time enrollment the following fall term.
For postdoctoral researchers looking to participate in the laboratory's research and development programs, launch new areas of research, and even establish a base for ongoing collaborations, NREL's RPP can be an ideal fit. And both interns and postdocs can look for opportunities across the range of the lab's research centers.
Centers include:
-National Bioenergy Center, a leading hub for biochemical engineering, microbiology, molecular biology, chemistry, and chemical engineering related to biomass and derived products
-National Center for Photovoltaic Research, recognized as a world leader in photovoltaic research, drawing upon physics, chemistry, materials science, and electrical and chemical engineering skills
-National Wind Technology Center, a primary global anchor for aerospace, mechanical and electrical engineering, and meteorology advancement
-Strategic Energy Analysis, which provides groundbreaking insights focused on technology, market, policy, and sustainability
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