Postdoctoral Research Associate - Computation for Advanced Manufacturing

Requisition Id 15598 

­­Overview:

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.

The Computational Coupled Physics (CCP) Group within the Computational Sciences and Engineering Division (CSED), at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to develop and apply computational technique for advanced manufacturing using high-performance computing resources. ORNL’s CCP conduct world-leading research and development in multi-scale computational physics, computational materials, and machine learning and artificial intelligence, using the DOE’s leadership class computing facilities. This position will utilize methods such as finite elements, finite volume, and machine learning to solve challenging real-world problems related to structural materials and advanced manufacturing processes. The successful candidate will have experience with advanced computational approaches, software engineering, high-performance computing, and an understanding of materials science, with an emphasis on metallurgy related to phase transformations and/or thermomechanics.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Help to develop and apply physics-based and/or machine learning models for advanced manufacturing processes.
• Author peer reviewed papers for journals and conference, technical reports, open-source software, and represent the organization by making technical presentations at workshops and conferences.
• Collaborate within a multi-disciplinary research environment consistent of computational scientists, computer scientists, experimentalists, materials scientists, and conduct basic and applied research in support of the Laboratory’s mission.
• Engage with the broader community for computational methods, manufacturing, and materials science.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success. 

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in materials science, mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, computer science, or a closely related field, completed within the last five years.
• Demonstrated expertise in computational methods such as finite elements or finite volume techniques.
• Demonstrated experience developing and running computational tools for high-performance computing environment, including distributed parallelism for GPUs.
• Demonstrated experience in common scientific programming languages, such as Python and C++.
• Demonstrated experience in structural materials, such as research in phase transformations or mechanical behavior.
• Demonstrated effective written and oral communication skills, a proven publication record, and effective interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary research environment that follows modern software quality standard (version control, unit testing, continuous integration, etc.).
• Experience in the development of large-scale physics simulation codes, including coupling of multiple codes, and an understanding of computational scaling and efficiency for large-scale HPC environments.
• Strong background in materials science with an emphasis on phase transformations and mechanical behavior of structural materials.
• Familiarity with advanced manufacturing processes such as laser powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

This is a temporary 24-month position.  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.

Visa Sponsorship: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.  

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements: 

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge. 
• 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.

Technical Questions:

• For any technical questions, please contact one of the following: Alex Plotkowski (plotkowskiaj@ornl.gov), Steve DeWitt (dewittsj@ornl.gov), John Coleman (colemanjs@ornl.gov).

About ORNL:

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added 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.