Postdoctoral Research Associate- Experimental Nuclear Structure, Reactions, and Astrophysics
Date: Jan 13, 2026
Location: Oak Ridge, TN, US, 37830
Company: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Requisition Id 15794
Overview:
The Physics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics Group in support of the Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics research program and the Nuclear Data effort.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Design, propose, perform and analyze experiments in nuclear structure and nuclear astrophysics at national and international accelerator facilities.
- Develop instrumentation and analysis techniques to support these experimental efforts.
- Contribute to the development of ML/AI tools for nuclear physics and nuclear data applications.
- Present results at scientific meetings and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
- Contribute to the broader goals of the Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics Group, specifically those related to the nuclear data efforts.
Basic Qualifications:
- A Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics or a closely related field completed within the last five years.
- Strong background in nuclear reactions, structure or decay.
- Demonstrated experience designing, running and analyzing experiments using in-beam charged-particle and gamma-ray spectroscopy.
- Published record using AI/ML techniques for the analysis of nuclear physics data.
- Hands-on experience installing and operating instrumentation for nuclear spectroscopy.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience merging and analyzing large data sets from state-of-the-art nuclear physics instruments.
- Experience using pulse-height and waveform data acquisition systems.
- Experience analyzing data from gamma-ray tracking arrays, such as GRETINA.
- Experience working with nuclear models and experimental nuclear data.
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a research environment.
- Effective written and oral communication skills.
- Familiarity with nuclear data needs in the areas of nuclear structure and reactions.
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 for 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
About ORNL:
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.
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.
Nearest Major Market: Knoxville