Summer 2026 Research Intern - Materials Discovery Research Institute

Job Description

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on society through research? Underwriters Laboratories Research Institutes (ULRI) Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) is seeking a motivated and dedicated Research Intern to join our team for Summer 2026. This summer 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, 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.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Materials Discovery Research team who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

Materials Discovery Research Institute:

The Materials Discovery Research Institute 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.

Essential Functions, Roles, and Responsibilities

• 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 the discovery of new materials for the extraction and separation of critical minerals to support technologies such as direct lithium extraction.

• Assist in data collection from discovery to bench-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 you'll experience working at UL Research Institutes: We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for nearly 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People: Our people make us special. You'll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today's global challenges require.

• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here. We see what's on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.

• Grow and achieve: We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.

• Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.

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 graduate program in a related field (e.g., engineering, sciences, environmental science, public policy, 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.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

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