Postdoctoral Research Associate - Energy Efficiency Engineer

Requisition Id 13624 

Purpose:

The Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Research & Analysis (MEERA) Group in the Manufacturing Science Division (MSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking applicants for a postdoctoral research associate position in energy efficiency and decarbonization for the industry sector. This position augments ORNL's industrial energy efficiency and decarbonization team, which operates in support of DOE's Better Plants and Better Climate Challenge programs. The mission of the MEERA group is to research, analyze, and disseminate knowledge on energy, carbon, water, and material efficiency in the manufacturing sector and to develop, deploy, and promote impactful practices, tools, and technologies. The MEERA group is a part of ORNL’s Manufacturing Science Division in the Energy Science and Technology Directorate.

Through its energy efficiency & decarbonization technical assistance programs, the MEERA group develops a diverse portfolio of industrial energy efficiency tools and resources delivered to the manufacturing sector through various technical assistance and training events worldwide. The MEERA group actively supports industry partners in improving manufacturing plant energy efficiency and decarbonization through roles in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Plants and Better Climate Challenge programs.  

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

• The successful candidate will assist principal investigators and lead energy efficiency technology deployment projects as part of an expanding program.
• The candidate’s work will be focused on technical assistance and research related to improved energy management in existing industrial facilities during their operational phase. Additionally, you will provide support to the U.S. DOE’s Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office (IEDO) programs.
• IEDO operates under the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
• There may also be opportunities to work on international energy efficiency programs. IEDO’s Technology Partnerships subprogram presently collaborates with some of the largest manufacturing plants in the United States through the DOE’s Better Buildings, Better Plants Program.
• The postdoctoral associate will collaborate on research and analysis of technologies and practices for increasing the energy efficiency of the industrial and buildings sectors.
• The assignment will involve leading projects and supporting ORNL program managers and principal investigators on IEDO programs and projects in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment.
• The IEDO project work includes supporting activities under the DOE’s Better Buildings, Better Plants program.
• Activities would include acting as a technical account manager for key companies, interfacing with corporate energy managers, visiting manufacturing sites, analyzing technologies, assisting industrial clients to improve energy management practices, and performing energy data benchmarking and analysis studies.
• The postdoc work may also include writing technical reports to summarize the results of technical assistance activities and contributing to periodic progress reports for sponsors.
• The candidate should have the ability to work creatively and cooperatively as a member of an interdisciplinary research team.
• Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

The candidate will have the opportunity to lead projects, collaborate with research staff and partner organizations on future research initiatives, network with related organizations, interact with existing sponsors in pursuit of additional research funding, and prepare proposals and present results to sponsors, peer reviewers, and others. 

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, or a related discipline completed within the last 5 years.

• Experience in industry and/or buildings, specifically in energy efficiency management and projects.

• Proficiency in the use of Excel for engineering data reduction and analysis is essential.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with mechanical engineering modeling and analysis tools is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of industrial processes, building science, energy savings performance contracts, heating and cooling technologies, and mechanical systems and controls is desired.
• Familiarity with numerical calculation and statistical data analysis techniques is desired.

• Certified Energy Manager Certification.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills are required to support regular interactions with manufacturing partners, sponsors, and others, as well as to prepare reports, proposals, publications, and journal articles.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, beneficial for team building, partnering, and communications, are a plus for this position.
• Must be willing to travel. You will be involved in meetings with DOE sponsors in Washington, DC, and will attend key conferences and workshops. Periodic travel will be required to visit federal facilities and industrial plants.

ORNL Ethics and Conduct: As a member of the ORNL scientific community, you will be expected to commit to ORNL's Research Code of Conduct. Our full code of conduct and a statement by the Lab Director's office can be found here: https://www.ornl.gov/content/research-integrity

Special Requirements:

Applicants cannot have received their Ph.D. more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be up to 24 months with the potential for extension of up to 12 months. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You may upload these directly to your application or have them sent to postdocrecruitment@ornl.gov with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
• View Profile
• Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

Benefits at ORNL:  

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain dedicated people! The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.