Postdoctoral Research Associate - Computational Hydrology

Requisition Id 13518 

Overview: 

We seek a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support research in the Watershed Systems Modeling Group in the Environmental Sciences Division (ESD), Biological and Environmental Systems Science Directorate (BESSD) at ORNL. We are interested in qualified candidates with experience in computational hydrology and/or hydrodynamics to run and develop models of flooding in urban and semi-urban regions using process-rich models and high-performance computing. The candidate will work with a multi-disciplinary team of scientists as a part of the Southeast Texas Urban Integrated Field Laboratory (https://setx-uifl.org/), a project focused on identifying climate impact mitigation strategies in partnership with Southeast Texas community members and technical experts.

ESD is an interdisciplinary research and development organization with more than 60 years of achievement in local, regional, national, and international environmental research. Our vision is to expand scientific knowledge and develop innovative strategies and technologies that will strengthen the nation’s leadership in creating solutions to help sustain the Earth’s natural resources. Our scientists conduct research, develop technology, and perform analyses to understand and assess responses of environmental systems at the environment-human interface and the consequences of alternative energy and environmental strategies.

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

The selected candidate will have responsibility for:

• Developing and evaluating models of gray and green infrastructure in Amanzi-ATS, a process-based hydrologic model.

• Leveraging these developments to evaluate how changing climate, land use/land cover, and scenarios of infrastructure development will affect flooding in Southeast Texas in the coming decades.

• Developing hypothesis-driven numerical experiments around the changing risk of compound flooding, bringing data and hydrologic process understanding together with models to evaluate these hypotheses, and leading papers describing those findings.

• You will also have the opportunity to interact with local stakeholders and experts in design, facilitating the codesign of flood mitigation strategies and evaluating, with models, the efficacy of these strategies which will inform local climate and flood mitigation plans.

• 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.

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in hydrology, applied mathematics, civil/environmental engineering or a related field completed within the last 5 years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior knowledge and demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas are required: 1) flood modeling; 2) integrated surface subsurface hydrologic modeling; 3) modeling the effects of green or gray infrastructure on the water cycle; 4) modeling the coastal water cycle, e.g. hydrometeorology, tropical storms, coastal flooding, etc; 5) high-performance computing.

• Experience using hydrologic, hydrodynamic, or similar models is required; experience developing them is a plus.

• Experience in programming languages including C++ and Fortran (for model development) and python or GIS (for model evaluation and workflow) is advantageous. 

• Experience processing and leveraging large, complex datasets of observations is advantageous.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• 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.

Please contact Drs. Saubhagya Rathore (rathoress@ornl.gov) and Ethan Coon (coonet@ornl.gov) with questions related to this position.

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 for up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and the availability of funding.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can 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 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: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, 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.

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

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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.