NSF INTERN Program

NSF-DOE INTERN Opportunity

With funding support from the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), the National Science Foundation (NSF) INTERN program(link is external) is accepting applications for the Geothermal INTERN opportunity.

Under this opportunity, graduate students can acquire core professional competencies and skills by working within the geothermal industry.

Apply today!(link is external)

 

 

Geothermal INTERN Cohorts 

Second Cohort   

The second cohort of 24 students represents a breadth of human experiences: they hail from locations across the globe and are pursuing studies at 17 different colleges and universities, among them institutions in Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research(link is external) (EPSCoR) states. The students and partnerships supported through the INTERN program are helping to build the geothermal energy workforce and demonstrate the varied opportunities in geothermal career paths

 

Geothermal INTERN Opportunity Student Porraket Dechdacho

 

Porraket Dechdacho  

University: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities 

Host Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory 

Degree: Ph.D. in Hydrogeology  

“One unexpected lesson [from this internship is] how crucial collaboration between modelers, experimentalists, and geologists is for the understanding of the subsurface process. This interdisciplinary teamwork was eye-opening and helped me deepen my understanding of geothermal research, particularly the site-specific challenges and the importance of subsurface data."   

 

Geothermal INTERN Opportunity Student Feaze Ghazvini

 

Feaze Ghazvini 

University: University of Southern California 

Host Organization: GeothermEx  

Degree: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering  

“In my future career, I hope to contribute to advancing geothermal energy as a reliable and scalable solution for global energy needs. I’m passionate about driving sustainable practices, and I believe geothermal energy has immense untapped potential. I hope to be a female leader in this field.” 

 

Geothermal INTERN Opportunity Student Tyler Hickey

 

Tyler Hickey  

University: West Virginia University 

Host Organization: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey (WVGES) 

Degree: Masters in Geology 

“This experience has allowed me to explore an innovative and sustainable energy source that has the potential to reshape our landscape. Working alongside experts in the field has provided invaluable insights and practical knowledge that I could not have gained elsewhere. This internship is not only a stepping-stone in my career but also a profound personal and professional growth experience.”  

 

Geothermal INTERN Opportunity Student Seungmin Lee

 

Seungmin Lee 

University: Florida State University  

Host Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory   

Degree: Ph.D. in Applied and Computational Mathematics. 

“The lab I worked was highly supportive, always seeking to ensure the convenience of its researchers. They offered a variety of training programs to help incoming interns and researchers adapt to the lab environment. I also appreciated the numerous opportunities to engage in conversations with people from various fields, allowing for an inspiring exchange of ideas.” 

 

Geothermal INTERN Opportunity Student Lauren Terry

 

Lauren Terry 

University: Colorado School of Mines 

Host Organization: Coso Operating Company Geothermal Facility  

Degree: Ph.D.  in Economic Geology   

“I think the more we can educate people, the better off we will be when we make decisions, whether those pertain to policy or the everyday decisions that add up to how we live in society. [...] Before this internship, I had only a vague idea of how a geothermal power plant operated. They are really fantastic when you learn about them in detail.” 

 

Geothermal INTERN Opportunity Student Hugo Zazueta

 

Hugo Zazueta  

University: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 

Host Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory 

Degree: Masters in Civil Engineering 

“My advice for anyone interested in working geothermal energy is to apply for internships at national laboratories like ORNL [Oak Ridge National Laboratory]. These labs are home to some of the greatest minds in the field. Researchers at these prestigious institutions possess deep knowledge and wisdom [...], providing invaluable learning opportunities.” 

 

 

First Cohort

The 14 students selected for the first Geothermal INTERN cohort represented 11 colleges and universities nationwide, as well as an array of backgrounds and academic disciplines. The students in the first cohort had very positive experiences across their varied internships. They reported finding great value in putting their scholarly expertise to real-world, hands-on use, and being delighted by the warmth, generosity, and passion of the people working in geothermal who were so willing to invest in the students’ career growth. One student, having witnessed the U.S. national laboratories’ work and impact through their internship, has declared that working for Oak Ridge National Laboratory is now one of their career goals. 

Meet some of them below, and learn more about their backgrounds, their internships, and their advice to other early career professionals below and in GTO's 2023 blog series.