CRCC Intern_Inorganic

Corning Internship - CRCC Intern_Inorganic

Purpose of the Position:

Function as a research assistant in CRCC to support frontier research on low-dimensional / nanostructured materials and sensor device applications. The intern will work alongside full-time scientists across the full workflow — from material synthesis (spray drying, flame spray pyrolysis, continuous-flow synthesis) to device assembly and performance testing — contributing to Corning's technology pipeline in flexible/wearable sensors, gas sensors, and piezoresistive/piezoelectric sensors.

Day to Day Responsibilities:

• Support the synthesis, functionalization, and structural engineering of 2D / low-dimensional materials (e.g., MXenes, graphene, ZnO nanowires/nanosheets, MoS₂) and their composite systems under the guidance of the supervisor.
• Assist in leveraging CRCC platform processes — spray drying, flame spray pyrolysis (FSP), and continuous-flow microreactors — to fabricate high-surface-area porous, core–shell, or 3D-architected sensing materials.
• Support the assembly and testing of gas sensors (e.g., NO₂, VOCs), piezoresistive/piezoelectric pressure sensors, humidity sensors, and strain sensors, with characterization of sensitivity, linearity, dynamic range, hysteresis, and long-term drift.
• Perform materials and device characterization (XRD, SEM/EDS, BET, TG-DSC, FTIR, UV-Vis, particle size, contact angle, etc.) and analyze/plot data using Origin.
• Prepare experimental records, literature reviews, and technical reports; present progress in team technical meetings.
• Follow all EHS and information security policies; proactively identify and report safety hazards.

Project involved with:

• N/A

Reporting Structure:

• Reports to Staff Scientist, Inorganic Materials & Process

Direct reports:

• N/A

Education & Experience:

• Master's or Ph.D. candidate preferred (advanced-year Bachelor students are acceptable if ≥ 3-month continuous internship, 5 days/week can be committed).
• Major: Materials Science & Engineering, Inorganic Non-Metallic Materials, Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Condensed Matter Physics, Microelectronics / Sensor Devices, Nanotechnology, or related disciplines.
• Prior research experience in any of the following areas is preferred:
• Synthesis and characterization of low-dimensional / nanostructured materials (MXenes, graphene, metal oxide nanostructures)
• Sensor device fabrication and testing (gas, piezoresistive, piezoelectric, humidity, strain sensors)
• Flexible electronics, wearable devices, thin-film processes (spin-coating, drop-casting, magnetron sputtering, etc.)
• Flame-based / aerosol / hydrothermal nanomaterial synthesis

Requirements

• Ability to follow all safety rules and policies and promote a safe workplace.
• Ability to execute experiments according to high-level objectives with limited guidance, perform experiments efficiently and accurately, and analyze and document data.
• Ability to read English scientific literature and conduct literature reviews.
• Proficiency in Office tools (Excel, PPT, Word) and Origin (or equivalent data-analysis software).
• Good communication skills in both English and Chinese (written and oral), able to report work in a multinational team.

Desired Skills:

• Hands-on experience with device-level testing (e.g., Keithley source meters, gas-sensing systems such as CGS-4TP, probe stations, LCR meters) is a strong plus.
• Familiar with quantitative analysis of XRD/SEM/BET data (Rietveld refinement, Scherrer equation, BJH, etc.).

Soft Skills:

• Willing to learn and take challenges.
• Responsible, detail-oriented, and a good team player.
• Passionate about technology development, with independent thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Career Development Opportunities:

• Join the R&D system of Corning (an S&P 500 U.S. high-tech company) and participate in real, forward-looking product research projects.

• Gain hands-on exposure to CRCC's full inorganic powder – slurry – forming – thermal processing – device workflow and advanced characterization platforms.

• Benefit from the CRCC Internship Program, including structured mentorship, mid-term and final reviews, and completion certification. Top performers will be prioritized in Corning's future full-time talent pipeline.

• Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws.