Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are committed to a diverse and equitable workforce with an inclusive culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This is essential to innovation and creativity for continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

The Seismology Group at LLNL has an immediate opening for a Postdoctoral Staff Member to do original and independent research to support Geophysical Monitoring Programs (GMP). You will work on projects that focus on seismic event detection, event characterization, coda calibration and attenuation models. You will also work with the broader GMP team and its extensive seismic research and software databases. This position is in the Seismology Group within the Atmospheric, Earth, and Energy Division (AEED) in the Physical and Life Sciences (PLS) Directorate. 

In this role you will

• Conduct original and independent research, in collaboration with other LLNL researchers into improving our understanding of earthquakes and explosions, with the goal of improving capabilities to discriminate between seismic source types.
• Assist in Low Yield Nuclear Monitoring (LYNM) Dynamic networks project focusing on event detection with an emphasis on cross-correlation techniques and leveraging these for event detection and characterization. 
• Assist in Seismic Cooperation Program (SCP) focusing on international collaboration for joint data analysis with an emphasis on coda calibration method for moment magnitudes, lithospheric attenuation models and seismic hazard assessment.  
• Explore new technologies and data analysis techniques that may improve the ability to detect, locate, identify, and characterize explosions in a background of natural earthquakes and other seismic sources.
• Present research at meetings, as well as write, illustrate, and publish results in peer reviewed journals.
• Work as part of a scientific team and interact with GMP and other researchers to design and implement research projects, while coordinating program requirements and deliverables for sponsors, including program reviews and technical reports.
• Interact with sponsors, customers, partners, and data providers including universities, U.S. government agencies, national laboratories, foreign data providers, consortia, and international organizations (e.g. CTBTO).
• Travel to assist with experiment execution, data collection, to interact with collaborators, sponsors and research customers and to present results at scientific meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• PhD in seismology, geophysics, or related field. 
• Creativity, ability, and knowledge in quantitative seismology.
• Experience in collecting, processing, and analyzing local/regional seismic data, including event detection, location, and/or discrimination.
• Proficiency in organizing and analyzing large databases of waveforms, events, amplitudes, and arrivals for performing quantitative analyses.
• Familiarity with seismological and geophysical methods for characterizing the subsurface.
• Experience with programming skills (e.g. Java, C/C++, and/or Python), and experience with heterogeneous computing environments (Mac or PC, UNIX or LINUX platforms).
• Ability to interact effectively with a team of interdisciplinary scientists having different backgrounds.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present, explain and publish technical information.
• Ability to travel internationally as needed.

Qualifications We Desire

• Research experience in technologies for monitoring explosions or earthquakes or other seismic sources.
• Experience in deploying geophysics sensors and systems in the field, and processing the data collected, or analyzing geophysical field data.
• Experience in utilizing fiber optic (DAS) and/or other borehole sensor data.
• Experience in international collaboration.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Position Information

This is a Postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of extension to a maximum of three years.  Eligible candidates are those who have been awarded a PhD at time of hire date.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2022 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Work for a premier innovative national Laboratory
• Comprehensive Benefits Package
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Collaborative, creative, inclusive, and fun team environment

Learn more about our company, selection process, position types and security clearances by visiting our Career site . 

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. In addition, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing.  Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship.  For additional information, please see DOE Order 472.2 (link is external) . 

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position will be required to pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Equal Employment Opportunity

LLNL is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing candidates and employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We value and hire a diverse workforce as it is a vital component of our culture and success. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

LLNL invites you to review the Equal Employment Opportunity posters which include EEO is the Law (link is external) and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (link is external) .

Reasonable Accommodation

At LLNL, our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request via our online form . 

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here .