Postdoctoral Research Associate - Wildfire Modeling, Projection, and Risk Evaluation

Requisition Id 11648 

Overview: 

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 6,000 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.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate who will support the Earth Systems Modeling Group in the Environmental Sciences Division (ESD), Biological and Environmental Systems Science Directorate (BESS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to refine wildfire parameterizations in Earth system models, create constrained forecasts of future wildfire events, and assess both the probability and potential ramifications of wildfires on the US power systems to lay the foundation for effective risk mitigation strategies.

ESD is an interdisciplinary research and development organization with more than 60 years of achievements in local, national, and international environmental research. Our vision is to expand scientific knowledge and develop innovative strategies and technologies to help sustain the Earth’s natural resources.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Leverage advanced process modeling and statistical techniques to develop constrained projections of future wildfire activity
• Evaluate and improve wildfire parameterizations in the DOE’s Energy Exascale Earth System Model using a blend of observational and experimental data
• Quantify both the likelihood and potential impacts of wildfires on the US ecosystem and power systems, laying the groundwork for risk mitigation strategies
• Work alongside highly skilled interdisciplinary teams across the multi-institution DOE-funded projects, and is expected to publish high-profile research papers
• Deliver 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 PhD in Ecology, Earth System Science, Atmospheric Science, Geography, or a related field completed within the last 5 years
• Experience in the development, evaluation, and/or analysis of impact, land, climate, and/or Earth system models
• Strong research profile and be able to conduct independent research

Preferred Qualifications:

• Utilize a blend of traditional and cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) methodologies to analyze large-scale observed and simulated datasets
• Develop a predictive understanding of Earth's systems, with a particular focus on wildfire activity, using explainable AI and ML techniques alongside advanced modeling and simulation methods
• Develop analytical techniques to assess and constrain the probability and potential consequences of wildfires affecting the US terrestrial ecosystems and power infrastructure, thereby establishing a foundation for effective risk mitigation approaches
• Knowledge of land surface processes and land-climate feedbacks and their representation in coupled models
• Experience with high-performance computing environments, and excellent written and oral communication skills
• 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

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 for up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and the availability of funding.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to 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

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: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, 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.

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.