Graduate Intern – Focused Ion Beam, Electron Microscopy, and Autonomous Characterization

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is a leading institution for energy systems research and development. They are seeking a Graduate Intern to support cutting-edge work in focused ion beam and plasma FIB instrumentation, contributing to the operation and advancement of a unique autonomous platform.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with maintenance, calibration, and performance validation of FIB, PFIB, and laser PFIB instruments, following established procedures and safety protocols
• Develop and test Python-based instrument scripting and automation routines for ion beam control, image acquisition, and adaptive workflow execution
• Build and validate computer vision pipelines — including semantic segmentation models — for real-time site identification, feature detection, and sample quality assessment during FIB/PFIB operations
• Support time-sensitive customer characterization assignments, including sample preparation, data collection, and preparation of concise technical reports on short turnaround
• Explore integration of foundation models and large language models (LLMs) for natural language instrument interfacing, automated reporting, and AI-guided experimental decision-making
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary staff across materials science, physics, chemistry, and engineering; document methods and contribute to internal reports and peer-reviewed publications as appropriate