Thermochemical Intern

About the Role

• Position Type: Internship
• Duration: 6 Months
• Location: Chandpura (Tohana), Haryana, India

Key Responsibilities

• Thermo-chemical Process Development & Optimization
• Learn to operate proprietary reactors and assist in R&D experimentation, trials, and process optimization.
• Support development of process parameters (e.g., temperature, residence time, heating rate, air/fuel ratio, feedstock composition) to maximize bio-product yield and quality.
• Conduct lab- and pilot-scale experiments to evaluate and improve thermo-chemical reaction pathways.
• Help develop process flow diagrams (PFDs) and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for new and existing processes.
• Contribute to scaling up lab processes to pilot and field-scale systems.
• Lab Testing, Analysis & Characterization
• Conduct quality assessments, moisture analysis, and proximate analysis on biomass feedstocks and bio-product outputs.
• Perform characterization tests covering ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, calorific value, pH, and bulk density; support ultimate analysis where available.
• Operate and maintain lab instruments such as muffle furnaces, moisture analyzers, bomb calorimeters, balances, titration setups, and gas analyzers.
• Analyze process and flue gas emissions (CO, CO2, VOCs) and support emissions compliance evaluation.
• Maintain high standards of data integrity, ensuring every sample is traceable and every reading verifiable.
• Modelling & Data-driven Simulation
• Build physics-driven, first-principles models of the process from operating conditions and experimental results.
• Model heat and mass transfer, drying and devolatilization behavior, and reaction kinetics inside the reactor.
• Close energy and mass balances across the system and flag where measured data and model predictions diverge.
• Validate and iteratively refine models against experimental and field data, and use them to propose the next set of operating conditions to test.
• Field Work & Real-world Validation
• Support installation, commissioning, and monitoring of thermo-chemical processing units at field sites.
• Collect field samples and performance data for lab analysis and process benchmarking.
• Collaborate with local operators and customers to understand feedstock variability and processing requirements.
• Adapt process recommendations to field constraints such as feedstock availability, ambient conditions, and equipment limitations.
• Documentation & Reporting
• Maintain rigorous, time-bound logs of daily operations, research observations, and experimental results.
• Keep detailed lab notebooks and experimental records that another engineer can reproduce from.
• Compile and interpret analytical data into test reports and performance summaries.
• Document field observations and contribute to improvement reports for process and product quality.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Technical Skills
• Thermal & Reaction Engineering: Foundational understanding of heat transfer, thermal energy system design, combustion and pyrolysis fundamentals, reaction kinetics, and basic reactor design principles.
• Analytical Techniques: Familiarity with proximate/ultimate analysis, calorimetry, titration, gas analysis, or similar lab techniques.
• Lab Instrumentation: Hands-on experience with furnaces, balances, moisture analyzers, thermocouples, pressure gauges, flow meters, and pH meters.
• Modelling & Software Tools: Proficiency in MS Excel or Google Sheets for data analysis; exposure to Python, MATLAB, or Aspen Plus is a strong bonus.
• Process Documentation: Ability to create SOPs, data logs, and test reports clearly and systematically, and proficiency in IT tools for professional reporting.
• Safety Awareness: Understanding of lab and high-temperature equipment safety protocols, PPE use, and hazardous material handling.
• Experimental & Field Skills
• Prototyping Mindset: Eagerness to build, test, and refine lab-scale setups and experimental rigs.
• Experimental Design: Ability to plan structured experiments with clear variables, controls, and measurement protocols.
• Instrumentation: Comfort working with temperature sensors, flow meters, pressure gauges, and sampling equipment.
• Field Readiness: Willingness and ability to work in rural, outdoor, or industrial field environments.
• Problem-Solving: Practical troubleshooting of lab equipment, process deviations, and unexpected results.
• Soft Skills
• Adaptability: Comfortable in an early-stage startup where goals can shift daily based on testing outcomes.
• Communication: Fluent in English (reading and speaking); able to coordinate effectively with diverse teams across engineering, field, and business functions.
• Problem-Solving: A curious mindset with a proactive rather than reactive approach to technical hurdles.
• Rigor: Strong documentation habits and the ability to communicate findings through written reports and presentations.
• Resourcefulness: Collaborative, open to feedback, and effective in environments with limited resources or equipment.
• Integrity: Committed to safety, accuracy, and scientific honesty in all lab, operational, and field activities.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a B.Tech / M.Tech in Mechanical, Thermal, Energy, Environmental, Rural Technology, Chemical, or Biochemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Coursework or project experience in thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, combustion, or energy system design.
• Prior lab internship or project work involving thermal or chemical experiments, process testing, or analytical methods is a plus.
• Academic or personal portfolio demonstrating hands-on experimental, operational, or process-related projects.

Preferred Qualifications (Bonus)

• Exposure to biomass conversion technologies such as pyrolysis, torrefaction, gasification, or composting.
• Knowledge of biochar characterization standards (e.g., IBI, EBC) or soil amendment applications.
• Familiarity with circular economy, life cycle assessment (LCA), or sustainability frameworks.
• Prior experience working in rural or resource-constrained environments.
• Understanding of emission standards and regulatory compliance for thermal and chemical processing.