Undergraduate Hypersonics Summer Internship Program

What You Will Do

The Undergraduate Hypersonics Summer Internship Program is jointly administered by the Department of Defense's (DOD) Joint Hypersonics Transition Office and Los Alamos National Laboratory. The goal of this program is to create a strong workforce to meet future hypersonics-related science and technology needs in support of the U.S. national security mission.

The Undergraduate Hypersonics Summer Internship Program offers paid summer internships for undergraduate students with an interest in hypersonics who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in one of the following disciplines: Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering (with a subdiscipline in Aerospace, Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, or Nuclear), Materials Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, or Physics.

#ALDW Recruiting

The program provides mentoring, hands-on technical experience, and professional development opportunities through a formalized work plan complementing the student's area of study. Examples of hypersonics topics of research in this program include, but are not limited to:

• Shock and boundary layer physics.
• Coupled Aero Thermal Model development including structural and weather effects.
• Advanced and new materials development.
• Efficient production processes and integration with current and new materials.
• Integrated common technologies such as heat pipes, control elements, etc.
• Flight environment effects, modeling, and test capabilities.
• Adverse environment testing and modeling.

The available summer 2025 internship projects are:

1. The intern will lead computational modeling of benchmarking shape memory alloy architectures that enable maneuverability of various hypersonic vehicles. This will couple thermomechanical modeling with computational fluid dynamics. Maneuverability can be achieved by designs including controllable fins, morphing skin architectures, dislocating the center of pressure, and more.

2. The intern will assist with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) benchmarking of various hypersonic environments. The primary goal for the intern is to perform a design of experiments (DOE) study on adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) settings within commercial engineering software with the overall outcome of establishing baselines for future, higher-fidelity modeling efforts. The intern will also assist with scripting CFD data into TAOS input data for trajectory simulations.

3. The intern will work as part of a research team to develop the material synthesis and advanced manufacturing process methods to create high temperature/strength composites for hypersonic vehicle thermal protection layers. The intern will study materials that lend themselves to that application and to work with Engineers to 3D print these materials and perform material property characterization tests on sample coupons.

4. The intern will work as part of a research team to study methods of synthesizing and processing polymeric materials to inject and fill 3D printed metal lattice structures to create unique composite materials for hypersonic vehicle structures.

5. The intern will work as part of a research team to assess the means to produce fiber and powder reinforced metal matrix composites for making hypersonic vehicle structures with highly optimized mechanical properties. The work will include material design, synthesis, processing, and testing of the various composite construction concepts.

6. The intern will work as part of a research team developing multifunctional additively manufactured explosive (AMX) systems for application to hypersonic warhead development. Topics include electrically conductive AMX printing, embedded sensor and electrical system design, and tailored detonation performance including shape charge and jetting effects.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Enrollment: Must be currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program.
• Credit Hours: Must be enrolled in at least 12 semester credit hours or the full-time equivalent during the fall and spring semesters or the quarter system equivalent.
• Undergraduate Academic Class Status: Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, and rising Seniors are eligible to apply. Seniors who will graduate prior to the start of the summer internship are not eligible.
• Cumulative GPA: Must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. Candidates with a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher will be most competitive.
• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Application Submission: Must submit a complete application including the following three required documents. Incomplete applications will be automatically deemed ineligible. We strongly recommend reviewing the Application and Interview Tips website before applying.
• Cover Letter: The cover letter must explicitly reference the specific project or projects listed in the job ad that interest you and detail how the project(s) align with your academic and work experiences, knowledge, skills, and abilities. If you are interested in multiple projects, please indicate their ranking.
• Resume: Must include dates for all related experiences.
• Current Transcript: Must include all grades earned up to the time of application and may be unofficial.

Desired Qualifications:

Candidates will be most competitive when they possess the following knowledge and skills:

• Laboratory Experience: Demonstrated attention to detail and commitment to safety in a laboratory setting.
• Communication Skills: Proven ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing in a professional context.
• Result-Oriented: Commitment to achieving results in complex social and organizational settings.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced knowledge of various computer systems and software.
• Innovative Thinking: Ability to find unique solutions to complex issues.

Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM.

Work Schedule: The internship is a ten-week, full-time appointment to take place during the summer months. Exact start and end dates will be determined at the time of selection and in coordination with the selected candidate. The program is flexible regarding start and end dates, but summer internships typically occur between the months of May to September when the students are on break from school. Appointments may be extended to future summers depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and the availability of the participant.

Note to Applicants:

• For assistance or questions related to this job ad, contact Cassandra Casperson at casperson@lanl.gov.
• For technical assistance, email applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1.

Work Environment: At Los Alamos National Laboratory we believe everyone is essential in solving global challenges. We believe inclusive diversity promotes innovation, enhances problem-solving, and make us a more successful and productive organization. Every unique voice brings something valuable to the conversation and everyone's ideas and opinions are welcome and respected. Read more about Inclusion and Diversity at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Where You Will Work

Located in Northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. LANL enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50-mile radius)

For general program information refer to the Student Programs web page.
Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: Q. Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1.



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