An NREL Intern Takeover

Ever wondered what it's like to intern at NREL? It might include supercomputers, hydrogen breakthroughs, and … a podcast mic. NREL intern Madelyn Weirich joins this episode of The NREL Podcast to take you behind the scenes of NREL's internship programs. 

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at podcast@nrel.gov. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

Transcript

[intro music, fades] 

Kerrin : Welcome to The NREL Podcast, brought to you by the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for energy systems research, development, and integration. We’re highlighting the latest in advanced energy research and innovations happening at the lab. I’m Kerrin Jeromin.

Taylor: And I’m Taylor Mankle. 

Kerrin: Alright Taylor, you know this, but our listeners do not. We’re doing something a little different today. Literally, never been done in the history of the NREL Podcast.

Taylor: Ooh, I’m listening, all ears here Kerrin! What have we got going on? 

Kerrin: Everyone’s on edge here right? Well, get ready, because it’s time for an [echo effect] Intern Takeover! 

Taylor: Woo! 

Kerrin: Today, we’re handing the mic over to one of our incredible interns to guide you through a behind-the-scenes look at the lab’s many internships.

Taylor: Internships are a huge part of NREL’s mission. Every year, hundreds of students come here from across the country to learn, contribute to world-class research, and take the next step in their careers.

Kerrin: And one of them is with us today! Meet Madelyn, our Social Media intern. Madelyn has been working with our team for the past year to support digital content, storytelling, and outreach—welcome to the show, Madelyn!

Madelyn: Thanks, guys! I’m seriously so pumped to be here. I’ll be taking you behind the scenes of what it’s really like to intern at NREL—from chatting with the people who run the internship programs to hearing straight from some of my fellow interns! We’re talking day-to-day vibes, how to get your foot in the door, and yep—some pro tips from us.

Taylor: Sounds great, Madelyn. Take it away!

[Music]

Madelyn: Alright everyone. Before we get ahead of ourselves, I think it would be a good idea to chat with someone who knows all the ins and outs of internships at the lab—NREL’s intern coordinator, Danelle Wilder! Danelle has worked with the lab for about 15 years now in workforce development. Thanks so much for joining us, Danelle! 

Danelle: Glad to be here! 

Madelyn: So, NREL has a lot of different internship options, and it can be a lot to keep track of. Can you break it down for us? 

Danelle: Of course! So, we offer internships at all stages of early career—undergraduate, post-undergraduate, graduate, and even doctoral-level positions. And that’s because a big part of our approach is making sure people in different parts of their career journey have a chance to get involved. So, while some places only accept students in a certain part of their education, we recognize that each stage brings in its own strengths. 

Madelyn: I love that. And as someone who's in that post-undergrad phase, I really appreciate being included in the mix. 

Danelle: Exactly! And that leads to another key piece—short-term vs. long-term internships. You’re here for a year, right? 

Madelyn: Mhmm. 

Danelle: That’s considered long-term. On the other hand, our short-term internships can range from 10 weeks over the summer or 16 weeks in fall or spring. NREL also allows the flexibility to work part time while students are getting their degrees.  

Madelyn: That makes sense. 

Danelle: Right? And sometimes, short-term internships can be extended for undergraduate and graduate interns who are working on projects and still in school or recently graduated. This allows students to continue to gain experience as they look for their next step in their career, which could either be at NREL or other organizations.   

Madelyn: That’s super helpful. And it’s not just research internships, right? What other fields are open? 

Danelle: That is a great question! So, while research makes up the largest group, we also offer internships in areas like education, business support, and—of course—communications. 

Madelyn: That’s me! 

Danelle: Yeah, that’s you. [laughs]

Madelyn: It’s honestly so cool how many different roles there are here. I don’t think people realize just how many ways NREL is involved in building up STEM education and the workforce. 

Danelle: I agree! 

Madelyn: And so right now, we’re welcoming in our largest group: the summer research interns. What does this program look like for them? 

Danelle: Let me tell you, this is such a fun group! They’ll be jumping into hands-on work with our researchers, contributing to real projects, learning about advanced energy systems, and getting mentorship all along the way. It’s pretty fast-paced but super rewarding. 

Madelyn: Wow, what a wonderful opportunity. Danelle, thanks so much for sharing! Now, I think it’s time for me to head out and catch up with those research interns to see what they’re up to. 

Danelle: Awesome, thanks everyone! 

[music]

Madelyn: For our next stop, we’ve been invited to come meet one of our research interns, Jeriel Dones Aguayo. And he just so happens to work in my favorite building here—the Energy Systems Integration Facility, also known as ESIF!

Jeriel: Hey, Madelyn! What’s up?

Madelyn: Hey there, Jeriel! Thanks so much for joining us today.

Jeriel: Thanks for having me!

Madelyn: Love the setup you’ve got going on here. Looks like you’re right in the middle of things.

Jeriel: Oh yeah. I love that I’m really getting the full research experience. They keep us pretty busy here. 

Madelyn:  I bet. I mean we’re gaining such valuable experience from our work here, so might as well get all we can from it, right?

Jeriel: Definitely. I feel like I’m learning and contributing at the same time.

Madelyn: As you should! But anyway, let’s jump right in. Why don’t you tell our listeners a bit about yourself to start off?

Jeriel: Sure! So I’m Jeriel Dones Aguayo, and I’m visiting from Puerto Rico to complete a summer internship here at NREL. Right now, I’m working on a bachelor’s in computer engineering at Universidad Ana G. Mendez. 

Madelyn: Very nice! And so what kind of research are you doing here?

Jeriel: I’m with the alkaline water electrolysis team, which basically means we’re looking at how to make hydrogen gas from water. In turn, we’re able to create hydrogen fuel.

Madelyn: Wow, okay that’s awesome. Hydrogen fuel has been gaining a lot of traction lately, especially in the aviation industry.

Jeriel: Yes! My specific project focuses on how a metal called molybdenum—something you find in stainless steel—can end up in the system and affect the electrolysis process. Even tiny amounts can make a big difference in large-scale hydrogen production

Madelyn: Yes! Molybdenum works as a sort of catalyst, so that less energy input is needed. It makes the process much more cost-effective. 

Jeriel: Exactly! Specifically, molybdenum can help keep the hydrogen and oxygen molecules from turning back into water. Which is—you know—exactly what we don’t want to happen.

Madelyn: For sure. And of course, you’re not just being thrown into the deep end, right? Interns are usually paired with a mentor to guide them through their research.

 Jeriel: Yes! My mentor is super proactive about making sure I understand what’s going on and is always there to support me. She’s super patient and always down to explain things!

 Madelyn: Love that energy. 

 Jeriel: Right? She’s great. I’ve mostly been shadowing so far, but my mentor sends me articles and resources that really help me understand the science behind what we’re doing. Honestly, I just feel lucky to learn from someone with so much experience.

 Madelyn: Sounds like you’re soaking up a lot—and that’s what internships are for, right? So do you two have regular check-ins, or how does your team usually work together?

 Jeriel: Yeah, we schedule one-on-one meetings about once a month just to talk through progress and next steps. The full team meets occasionally, and there’s also this weekly “electrolysis talk” every Wednesday, which is a great space to just listen and learn.

 Madelyn: Absolutely. So looking ahead—what do you hope to walk away with by the end of your time here?

 Jeriel: I really want to understand alkaline water electrolysis on a deeper level. I’m also part of this program called PIRES-PR—it’s a collaboration between NREL and my college in Puerto Rico. We’re actually building an automated catalyst ink sprayer back home, like the ones here, so I’m hoping to learn more about those too.

 Madelyn: Okay, that’s so cool—like, you’re literally taking this experience back to your campus. I love that. Jeriel, thank you so much for hanging out with me today and sharing what you’re working on!

 Jeriel: Thanks! This was fun.

[music] 

Madelyn: Wow, I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I think that wraps this episode of the NREL podcast! I’ve loved having the chance to introduce a few of the people shaping our program here, and am so glad you all could come along! Kerrin, Taylor, thanks for having me today!

Taylor: We’ve loved having you, Madelyn, thanks for sharing your voice with us!

Kerrin: Yes, it’s been great getting to know more about the internships and your experiences and a few of the people that make our internships happen.

Madelyn: And to our listeners—thanks so much for joining us today! Be sure to check out our internship opportunities at NREL.gov.

 [music]

Taylor: This episode was written by Madelyn Weirich. Our theme music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift B-C. This podcast is produced by NREL’s Communications Office.