Postdoctoral Research Associate - Risk and Reliability Methods

Requisition Id 13739 

Overview:  

We are seeking a Post-doctoral Research Associate within the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division (NEFCD) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This position resides in the Modern Nuclear I&C group of the Advanced Reactors Engineering and Development Section at ORNL.  As part of our team, you will develop innovative approaches for assessing risk and safety, such as computational risk analysis and other risk-informed methods for advanced fission reactors and fusion devices. You will formulate novel risk and data analysis methods to problems of national interest and plan and execute the research and development necessary for the practical implementation of those solutions.

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 7,000 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: 

• Develops and uses models for quantification of systems and component reliability including fault trees and event trees, Master Logic Diagrams (MLD), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and statistical methods such as parametric, non-parametric and Bayesian estimation procedures for the failure data analysis.
• Investigates operational reliability performance of reactors and contribute to optimization of reactor design and operational strategies and develop predictive modelling techniques.
• Provides reviews of and inputs to Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA), analyze data and documents to support component reliability database development.
• Conducts reactor safety analyses including deterministic and probabilistic methods.
• Supports reports to sponsors, and technical publications and presentations; prepares manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed publications, and attends and makes presentations at scientific meetings.
• Develops new ideas, concepts, and/or research proposals to contribute to programmatic growth.
• Delivers 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 Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering, Reliability or System Engineering, or related scientific discipline such as Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical Engineering.
• Experience with computer programming/automation and ability to develop further expertise in Python, git, LaTeX, Bash/Shell/Batch scripting, Docker.
• Basic knowledge of nuclear reactor safety principles, theories, and practices.
• Proven team player with excellent verbal and written communication/presentation experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years of relevant experience in PRA or Reliability Engineering.
• Experience in uncertainty quantification, including Monte Carlo methods.
• Data science experience, including proficiency in common data science platforms.
• Knowledge of reliability prediction software such as ReliaSoft Weibull++.
• Design of experiment skills - Broad range of failure analysis skills.
• Internship at a government laboratory.
• Knowledge of nuclear systems and nuclear system modeling and simulation, advanced reactors and fusion devices.
• Experience with using PRA-related software (fault tree editors and quantification processes) to build and modify fault trees following industry PRA guidance and standards is preferred.
• 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.

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

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

Link to benefits. https://jobs.ornl.gov/content/Benefits/?locale=en_US

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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.