Los Alamos National Laboratory’s T-3 Fluid Dynamics and Solid Mechanics Group is seeking a Graduate Student SA 1 for a paid graduate research appointment in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The position pays $36.52 to $42.36 per hour, depending on education completed.
This opportunity is a good match for a master’s or doctoral student who wants serious research experience in computational mechanics rather than a general summer internship. The initial appointment is six months and can potentially be extended for up to three or four years depending on progress and funding.
Research Focus
The graduate student will conduct research spanning computational solid mechanics, fracture mechanics, geomechanics and development of related numerical methods and algorithms.
T-3 studies fluids and deforming solids across multiple length and time scales. Its projects can couple material dynamics with multiphase flow, chemical reactions, phase change, heat and mass transfer and combustion.
What the Student Will Work On
The exact assignment depends on the research project, but the student can expect modeling, simulation, numerical-method development and computational analysis rather than routine administrative work.
LANL’s T-3 group works with the NNSA Nuclear Weapons Program, other Department of Energy offices, the Department of Defense and private industry. The group also encourages academic collaboration.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must currently be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program in Computational Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering or Applied Mathematics.
A minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale is required. The group also expects the student to work collaboratively, learn new material and be open to moving between different research projects.
Preferred Technical Background
LANL lists extensive experience programming finite-element-method or material-point-method codes as a desired qualification.
Research experience in theoretical modeling and numerical computation of fluid dynamics, solid dynamics or a related area of physics is also preferred. Applicants should make programming, numerical methods and research projects prominent in the CV.
Appointment and Work Location
The work is onsite in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Applicant review began July 18, 2026, and the posting remains available on LANL’s careers site.
The initial six-month appointment can be extended based on research progress and available funding. The position does not require a security clearance, but LANL applies suitability, background and drug-testing requirements.
How to Apply
For full consideration, LANL asks applicants to include a CV. Apply from the official Graduate Student SA 1 posting for requisition IRC145074.