NREL and Metropolitan State University of Denver Unite To Help Recent Grads Turn Undergraduate Chemistry Degrees Into Technical Careers
Immersive Bridge Program Offers Paid Chemistry Research Internships to Nontraditional, Underrepresented Post-Undergraduates
Whether working in industry, government, or a national laboratory, lab technicians are at the heart of any serious chemistry research or chemical industry program. Lab technicians monitor experiments, collect data, draft technical documents, and maintain equipment. Such positions also tend to come with comfortable benefits and competitive salaries—making them coveted positions for chemistry undergraduates.
Although on paper, research technician positions often only require an undergraduate science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree, the reality is that competitive candidates typically need something more: a robust internship experience.
"Industry polls show that hands-on internship or undergraduate research experiences are one of the most important factors considered when hiring new STEM candidates," said Megan Lazorski, an associate professor of chemistry at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) in Denver, Colorado. "Most of these hands-on research experiences are uncompensated or very low paid, making them out of reach for many students at MSU Denver, who often come from groups underrepresented in STEM and work at least one job while getting their degree."
Aware of the barriers MSU Denver students face, Lazorski assembled a team of MSU Denver professors and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers to build out a program she conceptualized to overcome them. The result is a postbaccalaureate "bridge program" specifically focused on training lab technicians—the most robust of its kind in the nation.
Living Wage, Insurance, Mentors, Training, Lab Experience—A Comprehensive Package
MSU Denver’s Industrial, National, and Government Laboratory Post-Baccalaureate Bridge Program is a free two-year certificate program that includes instrumentation training, culturally responsive mentorship, and in-lab experience on active projects at NREL and other industrial partners or institutions along Colorado’s Front Range.
"We were excited to partner with MSU Denver because we recognized the unique strengths of their program and its potential to create a strong pipeline of diverse talent," said NREL materials scientist Wade Braunecker. "This local partnership aligns perfectly with our goal of building a more inclusive workforce, and we’re eager to see how it helps drive innovation and shape the future of energy research."
NREL has hosted MSU Denver students as interns for years, several of whom are now full-time researchers or technicians at the laboratory, but barriers remain for many students from underrepresented and minoritized communities. However, those early success stories are another reason why NREL and MSU Denver are expanding the intern pool with the new program—making research internships more accessible to the talented local candidate pool by providing participants with a living wage and health insurance.
"One of the most important points of this whole program is the financial support package," said Lazorski, who is a joint appointee at NREL. "Many students could not engage in a program like this without comprehensive support. We are trying to demonstrate what a comprehensive support system should look like to help realize a diverse, equitable STEM workforce."
MSU Denver’s student population is one of the most diverse in Colorado and is largely nontraditional. Students at MSU Denver—a primarily teaching-centered institution—overwhelmingly work while pursuing their degrees. Many have families or small children to support. Fifty-five percent of its students identify as people of color, and 60% are first-generation college students.
Systemic biases and lack of representation are reinforced by real financial barriers. That can make it difficult for MSU Denver students to get the hands-on training needed to easily transition into professional research roles after graduation. Students often must choose between an unpaid internship or a job outside of STEM to pay their bills. Others lack STEM mentors with relatable backgrounds, depriving them of guidance, inspiration, or a feeling of belonging.
To address these challenges, MSU Denver’s program includes three different tiers of mentorship for each student, which provide culturally responsive guidance to participants throughout the program.
"We designed the program to give students the space to fully engage, relax into their STEM identity, focus, and thrive while getting high-quality, rigorous preparation for careers in laboratories," Lazorski said. "We strive to provide a model for other universities and national laboratories."
Team Looking for Funding Partners To Grow the Program, Replicate the Model
Core to the program is interinstitutional collaboration. By partnering with NREL and other regional institutions, MSU Denver can place program participants into working laboratories, where they work with teams of scientists who are solving pressing energy challenges.
Braunecker, for example, conducts research as part of the Hydrogen Materials Advanced Research Consortium (HyMARC), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office. Alongside Lazorski and the MSU Denver team, Braunecker helped navigate the subcontracting complexities of using HyMARC funding to help MSU Denver launch its sister initiative, the American Chemical Society Post-Baccalaureate Bridge Program. The effort will also enable interns from MSU Denver to participate in HyMARC research on developing advanced, low-cost, materials-based hydrogen storage systems.
"Working with Dr. Lazorski and other MSU Denver chemistry faculty has been an invaluable experience, especially in regard to learning holistic mentoring practices," Braunecker said. "Their approach to mentorship goes far beyond technical training—it’s about supporting the whole person, which has deepened my understanding of how I can empower interns and other colleagues to thrive both professionally and personally."
The technician-focused program is slated to launch for the first time in 2025—with an estimated three to four available—and admittees can expect to participate in similar energy research with HyMARC or other active research programs. MSU Denver has agreements with NREL and the Colorado School of Mines, but Lazorski and the team are talking with other area universities and industry laboratories to identify additional opportunities for MSU Denver graduates.
Securing long-term funding—and committed institutional and philanthropic partners—is critical for the program to make a lasting difference.
"This program has the potential to be revolutionary for building diversity in STEM careers—and not just for folks who are pursuing advanced degrees," Lazorski said. "We are seeing great interest in it from students and our partners around Colorado. Now is the time to give the program the financial footing for lasting impact."
Learn more about internships at NREL, and explore details about MSU Denver's Postbaccalaureate Bridge Program.