Internship | Graduation internship within buildings, infrastructure or hydraulic structures

Become an intern at TNO and contribute to research on reliable structures that support societal safety, affordability, and predictability.

About this position

Ensuring the reliability of large structures is crucial for societal safety, affordability, and predictability. Yet, there are major challenges in the technical industry waiting to be solved in the coming years. Think about the renovation and replacement of outdated infrastructure, the structural safety of structures in increasingly dense cities, and the adaptation to a changing climate.

These are major social issues that TNO tackles by combining many different areas of expertise in in-depth and independent research. This way TNO contributes to the implementation of technological innovations.

What will be your role?

You will join one of the four teams in the Reliable Structures department in Delft. In total more than 60 TNO colleagues are part of this department and the team that you will be placed in will consist of about 15 people.

Next to the office, the ‘Bouwinnovatie’ laboratory is located, where experiments can be carried out. Some colleagues regularly perform measurements in the field. It is each team's ambition to play a leading role in social trends and developments. Our specialists have a great diversity of experiences and competences.

Your research is one of the links in the research programs of TNO. Within TNO you have access to modern research facilities (software tools, laboratories, etc.) and an extensive network to carry out your research. We offer you the opportunity to develop yourself as a specialist, and to present and publish about your research where possible.

A few examples of graduation topics on which you can graduate with us, and research already carried out with our supervision are:

• Probabilistic design.
• Development of design standards.
• Soil subsidence.
• Monitoring of high-rise buildings.
• Fatigue & fracture mechanics.
• Assessment of existing infrastructure.

What we expect from you

We offer a graduation position to students that:

• Follow a master program in STEM such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering, architecture, (applied) physics or mathematics, computer science, marine/aerospace engineering, or similar.
• Have an investigative and critical attitude, you want to know why certain phenomena occur and determine its effect.
• Like to cooperate with others and are creative.
• Live in The Netherlands.
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills in English, and preferably Dutch language.

What you'll get in return

An internship at TNO means working in an environment where substance and impact are central. You will become part of a knowledge organisation where research and practice come together, and where experts collaborate on solutions to current societal and technological challenges.

Your internship is a period in which you can discover what suits you, where your strengths lie and what you would like to learn next. You are part of a professional working environment, gain insight into how things work in practice, and have the opportunity to build experience that goes beyond this internship alone. For many students, an internship is therefore also a first step in discovering whether TNO could be a potential next step after graduation.

In addition, we offer you:

• A professional and innovative internship environment in which you actively contribute to societal and technological challenges, working alongside leading experts in your field.
• Personal and dedicated supervision, with focus on your learning objectives, development and study assignment.
• Room to develop: you gain relevant work experience, develop both your subject-specific and professional skills, and build a valuable network.
• Use of a laptop and the facilities you need to perform your work effectively.
• A monthly internship allowance of € 615 for a full-time internship, for MSc, BSc and vocational education (MBO) students.
• Up to eight hours of leave per internship month for a full-time internship, allowing you to balance your internship with your studies and personal life.
• A contribution towards travel expenses if you are not entitled to a student travel card.
• A free membership to Jong TNO: the network for young colleagues, where you can meet other TNO colleagues and participate in sports activities, professional and personal development activities, and social events such as the annual ski trip.

TNO as an employer

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity.

Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration. By working with businesses and government, and by connecting different perspectives, we strengthen our innovative capability and create responsible, meaningful results.