Postdoctoral Research Associate - Materials Joining and Allied Processes

Requisition Id 16290 

­­Overview:  

We are seeking Postdoctoral Research Associates who will focus on materials joining and allied materials sciences and manufacturing technologies. These positions reside in the Materials Joining Group in the Materials Analysis and Interface Science Section, Materials Science and Technology Division, Physical Sciences Directorate, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  

Multiple positions are available to support R&D with different research focuses. They include innovations in joining and materials processing/synthesis, AI/ML for process monitoring and control, and physics based computational modeling of joining processes or performance of welded structures. As a postdoc, you will conduct research and development at the forefront and often at the intersection of above topic areas as part of our multi-disciplinary team, with access to the vast research resources in a national laboratory environment, to advance your career.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Perform R&D in one of the above focus area in an integrated, team environment
• Present and report research results and publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health and quality program requirements

• 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 Welding Engineering, Materials Science, Engineering Mechanics, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, or a related field completed within the last 5 years

Preferred Qualifications:

One or more of the following qualifications are preferred, depending on the specific position:

• Excellent hands-on experience in operating materials joining equipment, especially laser welding, friction stir welding/processing and/or ultrasonic solid-state joining/processing
• Excellent hands-on skills in manufacturing process sensing and monitoring, especially in welding and allied fields such as additive manufacturing.
• Excellent skills and experiences of solid-mechanics, heat transfer and HPC simulations of welding residual stresses, and welding process simulations
• Excellent skills and knowledge in experimental mechanics, mechanical behavior of materials, failure analysis
• Demonstrated experience in application of AI and machining learning in manufacturing processes
• Demonstrated experience in experiment design, and big data processing for elevated temperature mechanical property testing results
• Strong background in high temperature material damage mechanisms 
• Skills in advanced material characterization techniques such as High Temperature Digital Image Correlation and specialized mechanical testing are advantageous
• Solid background on materials science and phase transformations of metals and alloys, and experimental mechanics
• Demonstrated experiences in thermodynamic, and/or phase field modeling tools for microstructure and phase transformation modeling and simulation of ferrite alloys and lightweight materials
• Advanced characterization skills such as optical and high-resolution electron microscopy (SEM, TEM, EBSD)
• Familiar with multi-axis robotic system and program
• Excellent record of productive and creative research as demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to communicate to an international, scientific audience
• 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

• 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.

Special Requirements: 

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.

Postdocs:

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.

Letters of Recommendation:

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.