Postdoctoral Research Associate - Weatherization and Energy Infrastructure Resilience

Requisition Id 14834 

Overview: 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the largest US Department of Energy (DOE) science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. Within ORNL, the Building Envelope Materials Research (BEMR) Group develops and deploys affordable building envelopes for new construction and retrofits to enable DOE’s goals. Our synergistic research areas include building science, material and system development, and advanced construction. With the support from the U.S. DOE Building Technologies Office, we have the most extensive building envelope research portfolio in the nation. We are seeking to add to our team an energetic and creative postdoctoral research associate.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Collect and analyze data from past weather-related natural gas supply disruptions and study their impacts.
• Perform modeling and simulations to assess system performance under cold stress conditions.
• Design and evaluate weatherization technologies and materials suitable for natural gas infrastructure components.
• Develop experimental setups, conduct experiments, and analyze results.
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams that are composed of ORNL researchers and utility stakeholders.
• Interact and collaborate with researchers from universities, national laboratories, and private industry.
• Present research results to ORNL staff, DOE, industry, and academia in the form of invited talks, conference papers, and peer-reviewed journal papers with high impact factors.
• Assist in the development and preparation of proposals.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and program requirements.
• Maintain a strong commitment to the implementation and continuation of ORNL’s values and ethics.
• 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:

• PhD in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, or related discipline completed within the last five years.
• Solid academic and research record in relevant heat transfer, thermodynamics, and mass transfer, emphasizing modeling and experimental research.
• Strong background in thermal systems, materials behavior under extreme conditions, and energy infrastructure resilience.
• Experience setting and conducting laboratory experiments.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to support team building.
• Ability to work and demonstrate critical thinking individually and as part of a diverse team.
• Ability to develop and/or maintain strong relationships through active participation in professional societies.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
• Strong, proven publication record.
• Self-motivated.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with U.S. natural gas energy infrastructure and grid operations.
• Experience working with government or utility partners.
• Knowledge thermal insulation and corrosion under insulation due to condensation.
• Proficiency with simulation tools WUFI and COMSOL.

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 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

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.go.

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.