Fall 2026 PhD Battery & Sustainability Intern - Battery Research and Development

Job Description

The Advanced Materials & Chemistries group within GM Battery Research and Development (BRD) is seeking a highly motivated Ph.D. student to join our research team as an intern. In this role, you will plan and execute collaborative research that advances battery materials, components, and electrochemical technologies for next-generation electric vehicles.

Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to the Research Administration Building at our Global Technical Center in Warren, MI three times per week, at minimum.

The Role

As a Fall intern, you will work with scientists, engineers, laboratory personnel, operations teams, and external collaborators to develop new knowledge, evaluate technical concepts, and translate promising research into practical solutions. Depending on the assignment, your work may contribute to external publications and/or intellectual property.

Potential research areas

• Development of high-performance, durable, and cost-effective battery materials
• Cathode, anode, electrolyte, and additive development
• Battery materials synthesis, processing, and scale-up considerations
• Materials and component optimization for high-energy and high-power battery systems
• Electrochemical characterization and performance evaluation
• Materials, interfaces, and degradation-mechanism studies
• Advanced methods for battery testing, characterization, and data analysis
• Cell design, integration, benchmarking, and failure analysis

What you’ll do

• Conduct research and/or experiments to collect required data and validate research ideas
• Document and present results. Depending on the assignment, results could lead to external publications and/or intellectual property
• Assist lab management in identifying mega trends in technology and business strategies in the automotive sector
• Develop and execute specific research plans, including concept generation, development, implementation, and validation
• Collaborate effectively with peers, management, operations groups, and outside organizations

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, electrochemistry, physics, or a related science or engineering discipline.
• Research experience in battery materials, materials synthesis, electrochemical systems, or a closely related field.
• Strong theoretical and experimental problem-solving skills.
• Ability to design experiments, interpret results, and draw technically sound conclusions.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative research team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to integrity, accountability, safety, and responsible research practices.

What will give you a competitive edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Prior internship experience in automotive, battery technology, or manufacturing
• Knowledge of and hands-on experience with both battery materials and cell chemistry development
• Experience with cell fabrication and testing
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship management skills to effectively collaborate with varying levels of organization as needed
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, especially the ability to synthesize large amounts of data involving multiple variables into comprehensive, impactful insights
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to distill sophisticated subjects to a wider audience

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us 

We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

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