.
.
.
.
Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.
At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.
About the Center
The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) Cybersecurity Center conducts cutting-edge research to strengthen the nation's energy grid against evolving cyber threats. Pillars of our center are cyber threat emulation, novel Cybersecurity technologies for complex energy systems, Cybersecurity risk analysis, and the development of new Cybersecurity standards, all aimed at securing advanced energy technologies and highly distributed energy systems.
About the Group
The Foundational Cybersecurity Sciences group at NLR advances the core science of cybersecurity and translates breakthroughs into field-ready solutions to prepare for a future of advanced cyber threats and diversifying operational systems. Our research encompasses formal methods, artificial intelligence, and cryptographic approaches for verifiable operational technology cybersecurity, with a focus on increasing complexity and interconnectedness in energy systems.
Project Overview
The intern will work on the formal verification of system-level properties of energy systems, with a specific focus on verifying the properties of communication paths connecting components of energy systems of systems. Using the Isabelle/HOL interactive theorem proving environment, the intern will help develop and apply Adversarial Logic frameworks to rigorously model and reason about the security of these communication paths. This research contributes directly to NLR's mission of delivering verifiable, high-assurance cybersecurity solutions for operational technology.
Job Duties and Tasks
Use the Isabelle/HOL interactive theorem proving environment to formally specify and verify properties of communication paths in energy systems.
Develop and apply Adversarial Logic models to reason about potential attack vectors and system vulnerabilities.
Conduct literature reviews on formal methods, interactive theorem proving, and cybersecurity of operational technology systems.
Collaborate with research staff to translate system-level cybersecurity requirements into formal specifications.
Assist in documenting proof strategies, findings, and formal models for internal reports and potential publications.
Participate in team meetings, present progress updates, and contribute to technical discussions on research directions.
Support the development of reusable formal frameworks that can be applied to a range of energy system components and configurations.
What You Will Gain
This internship offers a unique opportunity to work at a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory, gaining hands-on experience in a world-class research environment at the intersection of formal methods and energy systems cybersecurity. Interns will build rare, highly sought-after skills in interactive theorem proving and adversarial reasoning, contribute to impactful research that directly supports the security of the nation's critical energy infrastructure, and develop professional competencies in scientific communication, collaborative research, and applied cybersecurity.
Learn More
To learn more about the work this group and center do, check out these links:
Foundational Cybersecurity Sciences: https://www.nlr.gov/security-resilience/foundational-cybersecurity-sciences
NLR Cybersecurity Center: https://www.nlr.gov/security-resilience/cybersecurity
Related Research Publication: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-66064-1_5
.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Required background: Expect a candidate who has completed BS in computer science, or computer engineering, or applied mathematics, or electrical engineering.
Or a candidate who is currently pursuing or completed a master’s in computer science, or applied mathematics, or computer engineering, or software engineering, or cybersecurity, or information security, or electrical engineering.
Or a candidate who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science, or computer engineering, or applied mathematics, or electrical engineering, or cybersecurity.
Required skills: familiarity with proof assistants such as Isabelle/HOL, or Lean, or Coq, etc.
Required research experience: formal verification methods.
.
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
* Based on eligibility rules
NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.
If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NLR you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.
.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.