Research and Development (Detroit Research Center) - 2026 Summer Student Program

Detroit R&D Center
Disciplines: Engineering Majors, Computer Science, Data science, Material Science,
Our interns will work with top scientists to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing fuel efficiency, develop transportation technologies and analysis of future mobility modes.

Computational Modeling Intern Opportunity
Utilizing AI and computational modeling to research and develop innovative technologies that promote the internal combustion engine as a clean, efficient and sustainable mode of transportation.

Typical Activities include:

• Use AI to develop a data-driven injection or fuel chemistry model as part of a digital twin
• Use C to code an ignition model into the CONVERGE CFD software and validate the model performance in an engine.
• Use GT-Power to update an existing GT engine model and evaluate the engine performance

Global Technology Analysis Intern Opportunity
Perform and communicate comprehensive technical analyses to inform the development of the Technology Outlook and long-term strategy for sustainable company business growth. Key areas of emphasis include new energies, transition minerals, advanced materials, digital artificial intelligence, and diversified industrial sectors.

Typical Activities include:

• AI-based data mining, covering the whole supply chain from extraction, refining, manufacturing, to end use and recycling.
• Supply-demand dynamics modeling, including technology adoption, demand modeling and scenario analysis.
• Technology and supply chain analysis including life-cycle analysis, techno-economic analysis, total cost of ownership analysis, and trade-flow optimization
• Data visualization: Archie Materials, PowerBI or Web-based interactive dashboards.  
• Technology Outlook reports: batteries, H2, transport technologies, etc.

Propulsion Technology Intern Opportunity
Develop sustainable and innovative propulsion technologies through experimentation to reduce carbon footprint and achieve zero criteria pollutants, including advanced engine combustion and aftertreatment concepts, novel fuel formulations, and mobile carbon capture.

Typical Activities include:

• Support pilot scale carbon capture operation including laboratory analysis of solvents and solvent development/formulation, and/or process simulation in AspenPlus
• Carry out advanced fuel formulation research on developing fuel component database, performing refinery streams analysis, and constructing physical property model for fuels
• Support the development of lower carbon footprint solutions for transportation, including testing data analysis and 0-D/1-D simulations of powertrain performance and system level assessment for hybrid electric vehicle powertrains
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• Support the development of advanced aftertreatment system for ultra-low pollutant emissions vehicle, including experimental testing, data collection, data analysis and system level and controls integration.

Climate and Sustainability Research Intern
Perform research in the areas of energy life cycle analysis, oil and gas carbon intensity assessment, refinery simulation and optimization, CCUS and carbon economics, or techno-economic analysis.

Typical Activities include:

• Collect parameters to be used in energy systems models  
• Analyze the environmental and economic tradeoffs between two or more energy systems, either at a stage- or life cycle-level. 
• Expand working knowledge of applicable software for programming (Matlab, Python, VB Excel, R), data analysis, and visualization 

 

Transport Technology Integration Intern
Research solutions on how to integrate fuel technology, combustion research and engine after treatment design while adding in custom electronic controls. Then combine these pieces together into an integrated vehicle to demonstrate the technology's viability and performance.

Typical Activities Include:

• Creating and modifying Simulink models for embedded controller code generation
• Electrical schematic definition and creation in Visio
• 3D scanning and modeling of vehicle and engine integration projects
• Software and code debugging
• Electronic component and system level debugging

Opportunities eligible for internship course credit (credits earned), please check with your Academic Advisor or University.