Colorado State University

Access Sensor Technologies spun out of research laboratories at Colorado State University in 2013 with the goal of revolutionizing the way exposure to air pollution is measured. In support of that goal, we design, manufacture, sell, and conduct research using portable air samplers. We are looking for 1–2 interns who are passionate about environmental issues and want to gain hands-on experience solving real-world engineering problems at a small company. Interns will have opportunities to work on two projects from May–August 2025: (1) testing prototype air pump, manifold, and mass flow sensor assemblies as well as (2) evaluating the performance of size-selective particulate matter sampling inlets.

Project 1: The first project will involve assembling, troubleshooting, and testing benchtop prototypes that include piezoelectric pumps, pump manifolds, and mass flow sensors mounted to printed circuit boards. The intern will need to assemble prototypes, test our ability to control air flow (under varying environmental conditions) using each prototype, and interpret the results of those tests. This project will involve assembling mechanical and electronic hardware, completing experiments in a laboratory setting, and analyzing experimental data. To complete the experiments, the intern will need to operate benchtop power supplies; mass flow meters; as well as a custom environmental chamber that simulates different ambient pressures, temperatures, and humidities.

Project 2: The second project will involve testing the performance of size-selective particulate matter sampling inlets in a laboratory setting and analyzing the resulting data. The intern will need to perform metrology on prototype inlets, assist with laboratory experiments, and analyze the resulting data in R.

Location: All experiments will need to be completed at our office in downtown Fort Collins.

Preferred fields of study: Mechanical Engineering

Preferred year of study: any

Desired Skills: Applicants with exceptional organizational skills and strong attention to detail. Applicants must be able to follow standard operating procedures carefully and keep neat written records of laboratory experiments. Experience completing common mechanical assembly tasks, working with pneumatic fittings, leak-checking pneumatic systems, conducting basic electronics troubleshooting, and writing R code for data analysis are all preferred.

Founded in 2021, AtmosZero is developing drop-in solutions to decarbonize industrial process heat. Accounting for 25% of global energy demand, industrial heat is produced almost exclusively from fossil fuel combustion, resulting in more than 7.5 GT of CO2 emissions per year. As global attention increasingly focuses on the urgency of our climate transition, AtmosZero is focused on solutions that are better for the environment and industrial bottom lines.

This summer, AtmosZero will be undertaking the construction and testing of our prototype first-of-a-kind industrial heat pump. This means we will be extremely busy and are looking for one or two interns who are excited to get their hands dirty learning about and participating in the early stages of taking engineering innovation to market. You should be excited about experimentation and iteration.

Each intern will work under the direction of our staff R&D engineers and will be expected to work their hours (generally 9-5 Monday to Friday).

You will be encouraged to provide feedback on your particular areas of interest and we will work with you where possible to provide opportunities for deeper dives. As an early stage startup, we highly value self-driven individuals who are excited to make a major impact in the fight against climate change.

Project 1: Research & Development Intern

Position Description: The R&D intern will primarily conduct modeling and simulation in support of product development and/or testing of AtmosZero’s heat pump steam boiler system and components. For the right candidate, there may also be opportunities for hands-on work on hardware components and systems.

Desired Skillset: Enrolled in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or related degree program. Proficiency with CAD (e.g., SolidWorks). Proficiency with computer software such as Matlab, Engineering Equation Solver (EES), GT-SUITE, Aspen, etc. Ideal candidates will have completed Thermodynamics and/or Heat Transfer courses and have hands-on experience designing/building mechanical and/or thermal systems.

Project 2: Mechanical Design Intern

Position Description: Assist with design and prototyping using 3D CAD software (SolidWorks, Inventor, AutoCAD) for mechanical and manufacturing projects. Support hands-on tasks such as machining, assembly, and 3D printing, applying mechanical knowledge and experience with hand tools. Collaborate with engineering teams to troubleshoot and improve mechanical systems, gaining practical experience in the manufacturing and industrial engineering fields.

Desired Skillset: Sophomore or later in a Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering program.

The City of Fort Collins Utilities is seeking a motivated student intern to support our Communications and Marketing and our Public Engagement Teams as they lead education and outreach efforts.

This will be unique opportunity to blend learning opportunities and experiences in the communication realm as well as supporting education and outreach efforts. Our teams have a need for someone who is a creative team player who enjoys interacting with people and is and comfortable talking to individuals and groups.

Roles, Responsibilities, and Opportunities:

• Work with the Utilities Communications and Marketing Team supporting website review, editing, accessibility and imagery.
• Track communications metrics and create reports to inform future strategies.
• Work with the Public Engagement Team to support education and outreach events with planning, logistics, and staffing outreach alongside other experienced staff.
• Support watershed education programs taught at the Poudre River and in Natural Areas.
• Consult with the education team on ways to improve current renewable energy lessons and hands on lab experiments.

Preferred fields of study: any

Preferred year of study: Junior, Senior, or graduate

Desired Skills:

• Flexible team player
• Ability to take complex information and transform it into something digestible for community members of all ages
• Excellent writing skills
• Proficient with computer programs and familiarity with website applications preferred
• Interest/experience with graphics and marketing
• Curiosity and a desire to learn as well as share insights and ideas
• Interest in working educational booths and supporting education and outreach programs in an outdoor setting (education focused on conservation and resiliency related to Fort Collins Utilities)
• Knowledge of resource conservation (e.g. climate, renewable energy, water efficiency) preferred

Additional information: Throughout your internship, you will be welcomed as part of a high-functioning city government team to learn with and from us. There will be some flexibility in work hours and location, although you will be expected to work at the office at 222 Laporte Avenue at least three days per week to join team meetings, meet with your mentor, and participate fully in the planned public outreach events that will include occasional weekend/evening times.

Additionally, you will also have the opportunity to spend time with the Environmental Services Team to learn more about the Our Climate Future community plan and provide valuable insights to that team. Our team will ensure there are opportunities to network more broadly throughout Fort Collins Utilities to gain additional career insights. This is a great opportunity for a creative, motivated and community-minded student!

Entrepreneur-in-Training (EIT) – Cleantech Startups

Colorado State University (CSU) Lab to Life (L2L) Venture Studio

About Us

Funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Department of Energy (DOE), CSU STRATA and the Institute for Entrepreneurship (I4E) are accelerating the commercialization of CSU’s cleantech breakthroughs through the Lab to Life (L2L) Venture Studio. We bridge the gap between lab discoveries and market-ready solutions.

Role Overview

As an Entrepreneur-in-Training (EIT), you’ll collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of business leaders, scientists, and engineers to execute strategic initiatives that scale cleantech startups. Your work will span market forecasting, business model design, and hands-on implementation, ensuring innovations like those below achieve commercial success:

• Recyclable Plastics: Position a breakthrough plastic technology to disrupt the $500B+ industry.
• NitroCat: Strategically align green fertilizer production with dairy supply chains and global fertilizer demand.

Strategic Responsibilities include:

Business & Market Strategy

Partner with faculty and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) to design go-to-market strategies, validate product-market fit, and forecast revenue models. Conduct 50+ customer discovery calls/visits to validate product-market fit, and competitive gaps.

Analyze competitors, regulatory trends, and funding landscapes to advise startup roadmaps.

Investment & Scale-Up Execution

Develop investor-ready materials (pitch decks, financial projections).

Translate technical R&D milestones into business-ready value propositions for investors.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work alongside scientists to evaluate IP commercialization pathways and align R&D with market needs.

Drive operational efficiency by implementing project management tools and KPIs to track progress.

Qualifications

Passion for entrepreneurship and cleantech innovation.

Ability to synthesize technical and business insights into actionable plans.

Proficiency in Excel, financial modeling, and presentation tools (PowerPoint, Canva).

Self-starter with a “learn by doing” mindset and proactive problem-solving skills.

Expectations Occasional travel to represent startups at investor meetings, industry conferences, or supplier sites.

Operate with integrity, discretion, and a focus on long-term strategic impact.

Deliver polished, data-driven deliverables under tight deadlines.

Preferred field of study:

Current CSU student (Bachelor’s or graduate) in Business, Marketing, Finance, or related field.

3rd or 4th year undergraduate, or graduate student

Desired skillset:

Experience in market analysis, business development, or venture capital.

Dr. Ciprian Dumitrache has been a member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at CSU since August 2022. His laboratory, the Aerospace Propulsion and Diagnostics Laboratory (APDL), conducts research in the area of combustion and hypersonics at the Energy Institute.

The APDL is looking to add one intern for the summer to work on the development of a numerical model for plasma-assisted combustion inside of a Hydrogen-Air radiant tube burner. Work will include developing a multi-physics model that includes both plasma and combustion chemistry and integrate the model into our existing computational fluid dynamics code.

Preferred Field of Study: Mechanical Engineering

Preferred Year of Study: 1st or 2nd year graduate student

Desired Skills: CAD, combustion technology and experimentation, fluid mechanics, MATLAB or Python programming.

Prieto Battery is looking for a highly motivated candidate to support our 3D battery research. The candidate will work in a dynamic R&D setting developing the next generation of battery technology. Areas of focus will include cathode materials and formulations, separator and electrode deposition, and electrolyte formulation and analysis. Additionally, materials analysis will include viscosity, density, and particle size measurements. The candidate will also be responsible for analyzing the data and creating presentations. Hands-on lab experience and familiarity with laboratory safety procedures is required.

Preferred Field of Study: Chemistry, Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics

Year of Education: Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Experience: Hands-on lab experience and familiarity with laboratory safety protocols, knowledge of analytical chemistry techniques, strong attention to detail and ability to maintain a well-organized lab notebook, ability to communicate clearly in both written and informal presentations and a solid understanding of electrochemistry is a plus, but not required

This proposal seeks an enthusiastic engineering student with a strong interest in computing and/or manufacturing to spearhead the evaluation and integration of AI-powered CNC technologies within the Rapid Prototyping Lab. The project will involve researching and assessing available AI-driven CNC software and hardware solutions, identifying their potential applications within our existing lab equipment and curriculum, demonstrating use, and developing a plan for implementation. This initiative aims to modernize our manufacturing capabilities, enhance student learning experiences, and position the university at the forefront of AI-integrated manufacturing education. The student will gain valuable experience in cutting-edge technology, project management, and contribute to the advancement of our engineering program.

Location: All work will be completed at the RPL.

Preferred fields of study: Mechanical Engineering/Computer Engineering

Preferred year of study: any

Desired Skills: Applicants with exceptional organizational skills and strong attention to detail. Interest in data engineering, machine learning, AI; background or interest in manufacturing and control systems/robots.

Solas Energy provides commercial advisory consulting services to the renewable energy industry. We specialize in project development and project management consulting services, climate change policy analysis, and asset acquisition/divestiture services for utility scale wind and solar power projects. With experience in renewable energy and climate change dating to the late 1990’s, Solas Energy provides consulting on a variety of projects in the U.S. and Canada to utilities, developers, contractors, and equipment manufacturers.

We are looking for a bright, motivated, and conscientious university student located in Fort Collins to work on a full-time basis during the CSU 10-week internship program. This position will primarily be working to support senior management on utility scale and small scale solar and wind energy projects in the U.S. and Canada.

The Project Engineering Intern will assist in performing basic administrative and project controls functions to support both the company and the company’s clients. Some of the administrative functions for the company include assisting in preparing proposals and preparation of marketing materials, managing data sites and other duties as required. It is expected that the Project Engineering Intern will be billable to clients approximately 50% of the time and will perform functions such as research on renewable energy policies by State, review of land agreements and documents, document controls, scheduling, cost estimating, reporting, procurement support, contract support, and other duties as needed by clients. The Project Engineering Intern will work from the office in Fort Collins at the CSU Powerhouse.

The Project Engineering Intern will receive on-the-job training and will become highly familiar with utility scale solar and wind energy projects, bidding processes, contractors, development methodologies, and market pricing.

Duties:
• Presentations, marketing, and research – create professional PowerPoint presentation from raw data and text; assist in the development of marketing materials; conduct internet-based research.
• Proposals – assist in responding to requests for proposals and estimating pricing.
• Development assistance – support development of a renewable energy projects as needed.
• Contract review – fact check client contracts against source documents.
• Bid assessment/analysis – assist in the assembly of bid documents for construction contracts; the qualification of contractors, pricing analysis, the application of analytic tools to effectively chart relative capabilities and pricing. Confirm understanding with subcontractors as required.
• Support applications for government small business designations and contracting efforts.
• Other Administrative tasks as assigned.
• Authorized to work in the US.
• Driver’s license required.

Qualifications:
• Passion for renewable energy.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and flexibility in terms of assignments.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills; problem solving techniques; ability to take direction.
• General understanding and ability to use project scheduling software and methodology; Microsoft office suite; and strong Excel/Spreadsheet analysis; Teams.
• Familiarity with contracting procedures, project contracts, engineering practices, construction techniques, wind, and solar plant technologies.
• Strong attention to detail; focus on accuracy, consistency, and quality of work; high degree of integrity & reliability.

Education/Experience:
• Working toward degree in Construction Management, Engineering or other similar degree, or MBA student with technical/energy background.

Required Skills:
• 2nd year or greater Fort Collins based university student enrolled in engineering or construction management. GPA 3.0 or higher.
• Moderate to advanced proficiency with MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access
• Familiarity with MS Project and/or ability to learn and utilize new software quickly
• Demonstrated analytical skills and attention to detail
• Superb organizational and time management skills
• Professional written and personal presentation communications skills
• Self directed, capable of working on an assigned deliverable result with minimal direction.
• “Can do!” attitude and the ability to work independently effectively
• Reliable transportation to meet with employer and attend client meetings.

Dr. Jacob Turner has been a member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at CSU since August 2024. His group, based at the Powerhouse Energy Campus, specializes in high-fidelity numerical modeling of fluid flows with an emphasis on aerodynamics, aeroacoustics and fluid-structure interaction. The group is looking for one intern in the summer of 2025 to help test and develop a new Lattice Boltzmann CFD solver. The student should have a strong interest in fluid mechanics and programming.

Preferred year of study: Junior, Senior or Graduate

Desired skills and experience:

· Must be a student within the College of Engineering at Colorado State University

· Familiarity with Linux environment

· Experience with Fortran programming

· Experience with MPI (desired but not required).

· Experience with Cuda-Fortran (desired but not required).

Dr. Bret Windom has been a member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at CSU since August 2016. At the Powerhouse Energy Campus, he and his team of graduate students and undergraduates perform their research in the Chemical Energy Conversion Laboratory. The Windom Group is looking to add two interns for the summer.

Project 1: Installation of Hydrogen Generator and Refueling Station

Our hydrogen generation and storage installation project is aimed at enabling advancement in the field of sustainable energy. The central effort of this project is the installation of a 120-kW proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyzer, complemented by a high-pressure compressor, storage tanks, and dispensing equipment. This cutting-edge system is designed to produce hydrogen in bulk to meet the research demands of CSU’s Powerhouse facility. Furthermore, it will serve as a practical test bed for evaluating and refining electrolysis technologies developed in-house. Beyond these primary research functions, this installation will also act as a public-facing hydrogen refueling station within the coming i-25 hydrogen refueling network, marking a significant step towards sustainable transportation solutions in the Front Range region of Colorado.

Given that the installation of this system is not yet complete, students participating in the project will engage in hands-on, experiential learning through a range of manufacturing and commissioning tasks. They will be directly involved in tasks related to the piping of equipment, wiring of high-voltage systems, and general troubleshooting. This involvement offers a unique opportunity for students to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world applications, enhancing their technical skills and understanding of hydrogen energy systems. By contributing to the setup and operational optimization of this facility, students will gain valuable hands-on experience with the hydrogen technologies that are likely to power our future.

Preferred Field of Study (Project 1): Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Preferred Year of Study (Project 1): No Preference

Desired Skills (Project 1): General mechanical aptitude and willingness to get their hands dirty.

Project 2: Fundamental Study of Reformed Ammonia Combustion

This project is centered on the combustion characteristics of ammonia/hydrogen blends, utilizing a rapid compression machine equipped with advanced instrumentation. Ammonia (NH3) is a promising alternative carbon-free fuel, but one that often requires partial reformation into hydrogen (H2) to achieve balanced combustion characteristics. This project’s main objective is to identify optimized ammonia/hydrogen mixtures that facilitate ideal combustion in conventional spark-ignited internal combustion engines. The collected data will separately be applied as part of a broader initiative to develop a plasma-based ammonia reformer envisioned to be installed on future ammonia-fueled vehicles.

Students involved in this project will have the opportunity to work closely with a graduate researcher in CSU’s rapid compression machine laboratory. Their role will involve conducting fundamental combustion experiments to develop an understanding of the intricate dynamics of ammonia/hydrogen combustion. The student will be responsible for compiling and interpreting complex data sets and will gain invaluable insights into combustion science and its applications in developing sustainable energy solutions.

Preferred Field of Study (Project 2): Mechanical Engineering

Preferred Year of Study (Project 2): Sophomore – Senior

Desired Skills (Project 2): No requirements. General interest in gathering experimental data and automated data processing.

Dr Azer Yalin is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at CSU.  He conducts research at the Powerhouse Energy Campus where he is the director of the Center for Laser Sensing and Diagnostics. He and his team of graduate students and undergraduates perform research in laser diagnostics and sensing for engineering applications.  The group is looking for one intern to contribute to research in these areas during the summer of 2025.

Responsibilities:

• Support ongoing laser diagnostics research in Yalin’s group.
• Contribute to specific projects related to propulsion or atmospheric sensing (pending discussion with Yalin).
• Support other laser diagnostic research at CLSD as needed.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

• Be a student in the College of Engineering in third year, or higher, of their BSc program
• Hands on experience with at least some of the following: vacuum systems, laser systems, data acquisition systems, electronics and circuits
• Experience with data analysis (data filtering, fitting, plotting etc.) via Matlab

Dr. Jianguo Zhao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He leads a dynamic research team focused on advancing robotic systems. These systems are specially designed for maneuvering through challenging terrains, such as aiding in environmental monitoring tasks.

He is looking for one intern for the summer to develop a novel terrestrial robot with multiple modes of locomotion. This robot will be based on origami-inspired mechanical mechanisms that can be directly 3D-printed using multimaterial 3D printing. The intern is expected to design, fabricate, assemble, and test the robot in lab environments.

Preferred Field of Study: Mechanical Engineering

Year of Education: Graduate

Experience: Solid modeling, Arduino programming, and multi-material 3D printing.

This position will provide support in developing modeling for the Mechanistic Air Emissions Simulator (MAES) project which models methane emissions from traditional oil & gas production sites.

Project overview at: https://energy.colostate.edu/mechanistic-air-emissions-simulator/  

Seeking students who are interested in emissions modelling.

Preferred fields of study: Physical sciences, engineering, or computer science majors

Preferred year of study: 3rd or 4th year

Desired Skills: Interest in data engineering, machine learning, AI; background or interested in oil & gas; demonstrated ability to program, preferably in Python; proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with financial software; passion for clean technology and sustainability, strong written and verbal communication skills.