Postdoctoral Research Associate - AI for Science

Requisition Id 16254 

Overview:

Do you have a passion for applying AI methods for accelerating scientific discoveries and an ability to think outside of the box in a collaborative and open environment?  If so, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Learning Systems Group within the Data and Artificial Intelligence Systems section invites you to apply to our new postdoctoral research associate position in AI for Science.

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence for scientific discovery within a national laboratory environment. The successful candidate will develop and apply advanced machine learning techniques—including multimodal AI, computer vision, and large language models—to complex scientific and engineering challenges. This role emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, scalable data systems, and impactful research aligned with mission-driven science.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will help solve some of the most challenging problems faced by the nation. You will perform groundbreaking research on a wide range of significant problems, and you will apply your work to exciting research in multi-disciplinary domains alongside globally recognized experts. You will bring creative thinking, teamwork, and machine learning skills to bear as you develop new methods to address scientific and engineering problems, collaborate with leaders in your field and across the laboratory, while working with the world’s fastest computers, and disseminate innovative results through publications and presentations.

The Learning Systems Group at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory focuses on artificial intelligence and computational research and applies this knowledge to support the nation’s leading initiatives. We hire top researchers who are ready to tackle the hardest problems faced by both the US and the world. Researchers of the Learning Systems group are changing the world with their research, and we are committed to hiring and retaining highly motivated, energetic, and creative individuals that will help us continue our breakthrough scientific endeavors.

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research in AI/ML, with a focus on multimodal learning, computer vision, and scientific machine learning
• Develop novel algorithms and architectures for tasks such as multimodal retrieval, reasoning over complex data (e.g., engineering diagrams), and predictive modeling
• Design and implement benchmarking and evaluation frameworks for emerging AI systems, ensuring reproducibility and scientific rigor
• Build scalable data pipelines and workflows for large, heterogeneous datasets in scientific and engineering domains
• Contribute to research in areas such as synthetic data generation, simulation environments, and virtual/augmented reality applications
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across computing, engineering, and scientific domains
• Publish research results in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and conferences; present findings to internal and external stakeholders
• Support proposal development and contribute to new research initiatives
• Co-mentor graduate students and contribute to a collaborative research environment

Basic Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in computer science, computational science, data science, artificial intelligence, or related field completed within the last 5 years or to be expected in 2025.
• Strong foundation in machine learning, deep learning, or computer vision
• Proficiency in Python and experience with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
• Demonstrated research productivity (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations)
• Experience designing experiments, evaluating models, and analyzing results
• Ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary, team-based environments
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with multimodal AI, large language models (LLMs), or retrieval-augmented systems
• Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC) and distributed training environments
• Experience with synthetic data generation, simulation platforms (e.g., Unreal Engine, Omniverse), or virtual/augmented reality
• Knowledge of scientific domains such as engineering systems, physics-based modeling, or quantum computing
• Interest in AI applications for safety, risk modeling, or scientific workflows
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• A strong publication record demonstrating either core machine learning capabilities or novel applications of machine learning.

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. 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

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:
For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required.  Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation.  This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year.  This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:
If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment.  Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.   

Benefits at ORNL: 

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented 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.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov 

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.

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.