Internship | The Sound of Innovation - Acoustic Research and Underwater Technologies

Sound is omnipresent in our society. While it can sometimes be a nuisance, like the noise from traffic or machinery, it also holds incredible potential. Imagine the possibilities in underwater communication and the high-tech domain. Our mission is to collaborate with governments and industries to study, understand, and control acoustic phenomena in the broadest sense. By joining our team, you’ll be at the forefront of groundbreaking research that is set to be implemented in the near future, making a real impact on society.

As a member of our Acoustics & Underwater Warfare division, you get the opportunity to dive into exciting research for either the civil, defense, medical, or high-tech sector. Our research portfolio is extremely diverse and covers topics like acoustic signatures, noise control, sensor & sonar systems and seabed security. Because of the diverse research directions it means that there’s also a wide range of fascinating topics you could work on.

Based on your interest and expertise your project could be more focused either on modelling and simulations, designing and executing experiments in our lab, identification and classification, or even operations research. Some possible assignments within these areas are:

1. Modeling and simulation:

• Calculating propagation of sound underwater to determine the impact on marine life.
• Modeling noise over longer distances to reduce low-frequency noise from aircraft takeoffs.
• Acoustic coating optimization to reduce the detectability of submarines to sonar pings.

2. Designing measurement setups and conducting physical experiments:

• Designing a measurement system for the transmission of vibrations, for example for pumps on board a ship, to determine the acoustic signature of marine vessels.
• Experiments using guided waves to measure the density and viscosity of fluids.
• Exploration of a flowmeter based on nonlinear wave propagation.

3. Signal processing, Identification, classification, and AI:

• Applying deep learning methods for the classification of sonar images, mines, and submarines.
• Identification and classification of shooting noise based on measurements and simulations.

4. Operations research:

• Contributing to autonomy frameworks for underwater autonomous platforms in order to keep our seabed safe and secure.

If the topics above resonate with you, you are very welcome to apply. It’s good to know that this is a general vacancy and that depending on our current work activities we can have different projects available. If you apply for the internship, we discuss with you what concrete assignments we have at that given moment. Together we can finetune the assignment according to your interests and expertise.

You are in the final stage of your degree in (Geo/Astro)Physics, Mathematics, Mechanical/Biomedical Engineering, (Applied) AI, Operations Research, or a similar technical study. You have experience programming in Matlab or Python, you are results-driven, and you are communicative.

In determining if and where we can place you, we are mainly interested in your motivations. Besides that, it is useful for us to know what your prior experience is and when you are available. Therefore we ask you to include the following documents in your application:

• A short motivational letter (max 350 words) which includes your preferred start and end date
• An overview/ CV of your prior experience (i.e. programming languages, projects you worked on, courses you followed, etc.)

You want an internship opportunity on the precursor of your career; an internship gives you an opportunity to take a good look at your prospective future employer. TNO goes a step further. It’s not just looking that interests us; you and your knowledge are essential to our innovation. That’s why we attach a great deal of value to your personal and professional development. You will, of course, be properly supervised during your work placement and be given the scope for you to get the best out of yourself. Furthermore, we provide:

• A highly professional, innovative internship environment, within a team of top experts.
• A suitable internship allowance (615 euro for wo-, hbo- and mbo-students, for a full-time internship).
• Possibility of eight hours of free leave per internship month (for a full-time internship).
• A free membership of Jong TNO, where you can meet other TNO professionals and join several activities, such as sports activities, (work-related) courses or the yearly ski-trip.
• Use of a laptop.
• An allowance for travel expenses in case you don’t receive an OV-card.

At TNO, we innovate for a healthier, safer and more sustainable life. And for a strong economy. Since 1932, we have been making knowledge and technology available for the common good. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. There is all the space and support for your talent and ambition. You work with people who will challenge you: who inspire you and want to learn from you. Our state-of-the-art facilities are there to realize your vision. What you do at TNO matters: impact makes the difference. Because with every innovation you contribute to tomorrow’s world. Read more about TNO as an employer.

At TNO we encourage an inclusive work environment, where you can be yourself. Whatever your story and whatever unique qualities you bring to the table. It is by combining our unique strengths and perspectives that we are able to develop innovations that make a real difference in society. Want to know more? Read what steps we are taking in the area of diversity and inclusion.

After the first CV selection, the application process will be conducted by the concerning department. TNO will provide a suitable internship agreement. If you have any questions about this vacancy, you can contact the contact person mentioned below.

For this internship vacancy it is required that the AIVD issues a security clearance (VGB) after conducting a security screening. Take into account that this process may take about 8 weeks. If you have been abroad for more than 6 consecutive months, or if you do not have the Dutch nationality, it may take longer. Read more about security screening on the AIVD website.

Important to be aware of before applying:

• Before the start of the internship, the internship agreement from TNO needs to be signed. For students at a college or university based in the Netherlands, TNO uses the UNL-template (supplemented with a number of specific agreements from TNO). For students of foreign and MBO educational institutions, the TNO internship agreement applies. TNO does not sign any other internship agreements.
• Before the start of the internship, the educational institution will need to confirm in writing that:
  • 1) you are enrolled at the educational institution during the internship, and;
  • 2) the internship takes place as part of the programme of the study.
• The confirmation of educational institution takes place by signing the UNL template or forms prepared by TNO.
• Interns at TNO must be in possession of a Dutch residential address at the start of the internship. Performance of internship activities from abroad is not possible.