Research Intern - Materials Discovery Research Intitute

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Summer 2026 Research Intern at UL Research Institutes Material Discovery Research Institutes (MDRI), based in our Skokie, Illinois, facilities. Are you passionate about making a positive impact on society through research? This 12-week internship provides a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a non-profit research environment, contribute to meaningful projects, and develop valuable skills in research and analysis.

UL Research Institutes:

At UL Research Institutes (ULRI), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Materials Discovery Research Institute:

The Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) works to develop and deploy new materials with the potential to address current global safety challenges. Pursuing materials that will help produce transformational safety breakthroughs, MDRI harnesses the power of advanced computing and high-throughput experimental methods to create innovative materials that will produce resilience for a sustainable future and protect individual and societal health.

We focus on today's critical challenges, working to create new and better materials that will support renewable energy and environmental sustainability. Among our top priorities is research into materials capable of carbon capture and energy storage, with an eye toward reducing the adverse impacts of humanity's reliance upon fossil fuel resources and enabling a transition to renewable energy sources.

Above all, our research builds on our commitment to a safer, more sustainable future.

What you'll learn and achieve:

As the Summer 2026 Research Intern, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of ULRI as you:

• Assist in conducting research projects related to Materials Discovery mission and goals. This may involve literature reviews, data collection, data analysis, and synthesizing information from various sources.

• Assist in materials forming and synthesis scale up.

• Assist in data collection from bench-scale and/or large-scale experiments.

• Help analyze data to draw meaningful insights and trends.

• Support in creating reports, presentations, and visualizations summarizing research findings. Prepare materials for internal and/or external presentations.

• Work closely with the research and engineering teams to gather information, share insights, and contribute to a collaborative and innovative research environment.

• Stay current with relevant literature, trends, and developments in the field to contribute valuable insights to ongoing projects.

What makes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Excellent communication and writing skills.

• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., Excel, Python, LabView) and research tools.

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• An eagerness to learn, adapt, and take on new challenges.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master's program in a related field (e.g., engineering, chemistry, materials science, etc.).

• Strong interest in the non-profit sector and research related to safety, social or environmental issues.

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

Learn more about us and the offered benefits, visit our websites at UL.org and ULSE.org.

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