About the Position:
The Fraunhofer USA Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI) is looking for an Intern to join its Energy Systems Group. This is an opportunity to participate in exciting and impactful research projects with industry, government, and utility clients. Fraunhofer CMI internships typically last for 6 months, but longer internships can also be accommodated.
The interdisciplinary Energy Systems team develops algorithms to analyze emerging data sources to generate novel insights into the real-world performance of energy systems, identify energy-saving opportunities (e.g., fault-detection and diagnostics), and create data-driven models to optimize control of building loads. In addition, the team conducts field testing projects to evaluate the real-world performance of new and emerging building technologies to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Principal Responsibilities:
While working with the Energy Systems team, you will contribute to multiple projects in one or more of the following areas, developing and applying some of the skills described.
Field Testing of Energy Systems: You may work with different sensors and data acquisition systems, developing and applying skills required to obtain and deliver high-quality field data, such as: specifying, building, configuring, testing, deploying, maintaining, troubleshooting, and decommissioning data acquisition systems and sensors; planning, building, executing and evaluating laboratory tests; performing data quality control analyses; analyzing field-test data; and reporting.
Energy Systems Modeling: You may work with larger datasets from appliances, buildings, and, potentially, energy storage and solar PV systems, to create high-fidelity models for device and system performance. Examples of approaches you may use include physics-based or gray box models, machine learning, and probabilistic modeling.
Technology Assessment: You may also contribute to assessments of building technologies, including minimization of the grid impacts of electrifying building loads.
Required Experience and Education:
An excellent academic record with an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Data Analytics, Physics, Architectural Engineering, etc.) and:
- A strong background in energy-related engineering or physics
- A solid understanding of the operating principles of energy-consuming equipment and systems in buildings
- Experience in data analysis, including programming in Python or R
- Experience in modeling energy systems
Additional Requirements:
- Aptitude for programming and deploying data acquisition systems and monitoring equipment at field sites preferred
- A strong attention to detail
- Ability to accept a high degree of responsibility in a team-based organization, combined with ability to work independently
- Willingness to go the extra mile to support the team’s research projects
Applicants for a Fraunhofer CMI Internship must be enrolled in a college or university or within one (1) year of graduation at the time of starting the internship.
Fraunhofer USA, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer of Individuals with disabilities, protected veterans and is a federal contractor.
Additional Requirements:
Applicants for a Fraunhofer USA CMI Internship must be enrolled in a college or university or within one year of graduation at the time of starting the internship.