Postdoctoral Research Associate - Water Resources

Requisition Id 16016 

­­Overview:  

Water and energy systems are deeply intertwined, and advancing science at their intersection is critical to the nation's future. We are seeking two Post-doctoral Research Associates to apply their hydrological and water resources expertise toward cutting-edge waterpower and engineering research in the Water Resources Sciences and Engineering Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

This is an opportunity to develop novel tools and techniques across scales (river basin to national), publish in top-tier journals, collaborate with industry and academic partners, and access world-leading research computing facilities—all while working on problems of genuine national significance.

We seek outstanding candidates with broad knowledge of hydrology and water resources and demonstrated ability in applying numerical techniques to water-energy research. Strong candidates will have advanced knowledge and skills relevant to one or more of the following areas:

• River simulation and flood inundation modeling.
• River basin planning and operations modeling, including reservoir simulation and optimization.
• Hydrodynamic modeling of water temperature and quality constituents.
• Related fields, including hydropower and power grid modeling, hydraulic engineering, and sediment transport.

The successful candidates must demonstrate an ability to work independently, evidenced by scientific outputs that may include peer-reviewed publications in top-tier water journals, professional scientific code/software contributions, and high-quality datasets. Candidates must also be willing to develop and apply interdisciplinary teamwork skills, as they will be expected to work with researchers in water resources engineering, computation, informatics, ecology, and environmental economics. Experience interacting with industry (e.g., utilities, power producers) is an asset.

The Water Resources Science and Engineering Group works on water-energy problems of national significance with direct relevance to clean energy, climate resilience, and infrastructure planning. Postdocs benefit from access to world-leading high-performance computing facilities and a deeply interdisciplinary research environment. They are supported with mentorship, conference travel, and opportunities to develop independent research directions and build professional networks. Oak Ridge and the greater Knoxville area offer an affordable cost of living, vibrant outdoor culture with proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains, and a growing scientific community.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Develop, improve, and implement novel waterpower theories and techniques to promote the growth and resilience of domestic power generation.
• Perform numerical experiments at various spatial scales, from individual reservoirs to river basins and national scale.
• Lead and participate in research partnerships with industrial and academic partners.
• Lead or contribute to proposals for future research related to clean and renewable energy development.
• Publish high-quality, impactful, peer-reviewed journal articles and reports.
• 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 Hydrology, Water Resources, Engineering, Physics, Environmental Science, or related discipline completed within the last 5 years.

Preferred Qualifications:

Strong candidates will have depth in at least one and breadth across several of the following areas. You are not expected to have experience in all of them.

Modeling and domain expertise:

• Flood inundation modeling and mapping using 1D/2D hydrodynamic models.
• River basin planning using operation model development, either through development of bespoke simulation/optimization tools, or through application of tools like RiverWare, WEAP, WRAP, StateMod, OASIS, WRIMS, and HEC-ResSim.
• Hydrodynamic and water quality simulation using tools such as CE-QUAL-W2, Delft3D, and SNTEMP.
• Hydrologic modeling and hydroclimate impact assessment, including handling of large meteorological datasets, geospatial and remote sensing tools (e.g., Google Earth Engine).
• Grid modeling and planning, either through development of bespoke capacity expansion and/or production cost models, or application of industry-standard resource build-out models or production cost models such as ReEDS, PLEXOS, GridView, and Aurora.
• Hydropower (conventional and pumped storage) simulation and optimization, including work toward integration of hydropower with battery storage and other technologies.

Computational and analytical skills:

• Demonstrated ability in selecting and deploying machine learning tools (Random Forest, XGBoost, LSTM, clustering techniques, etc.) to solve hydrology and water resources research problems.
• Scripting and programming skills, with strong knowledge of at least one of the following languages: Python, R, Julia, MATLAB, Rust, C++, Fortran.

Communication and collaboration:

• Excellent speaking and writing skills, especially for communication of scientific concepts to interdisciplinary audiences.
• Strong record of productive and creative research, demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at scientific conferences, and code or data releases.
• Willingness and enthusiasm to develop team working skills.

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.
• Candidates selected for second stage of interviews will be asked to submit three letters of reference by email to the hiring manager.
• 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.

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. 

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.

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.