Requisition Id 11405 

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 focus on research on materials joining and allied manufacturing processes, with an emphasis on experimental process development. This position resides in the Materials Joining Group in the Materials Structures and Processing Section, Materials Science and Technology Division (MSTD), Physical Sciences Directorate (PSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  

As part of our team, you will research dissimilar material joining for automotive applications, with a focus on solid-state joining and processing such as friction stir welding/processing, ultrasonic joining/processing, and/or adhesive bonding. We are looking for the applicants with strong research records in materials joining process development and innovations, with demonstrated hand-on laboratory experiment process development experiences. A background in microstructure characterization is highly desirable. As part of our research team, you will conduct research and development in a multi-disciplinary team with access to the vast research resources in a national laboratory environment, to advance your career.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Perform R&D in solid-state joining and processing such as friction stir welding/processing, ultrasonic joining/processing, and/or adhesive bonding of dissimilar materials for automotive applications
• Present and report research results and publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health, and quality program requirements
• Maintain strong dedication to the implementation and perpetuation of 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 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 Materials Science/Engineering, Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field completed within the last 5 years
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in materials joining process development and/or related disciplines

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong hands-on experience in operating materials joining equipment, especially friction stir welding/processing and/or ultrasonic solid-state joining/processing
• Solid background on materials science and phase transformations of metals and alloys, and experimental mechanics
• Working knowledge and practical background in application of digital image correlation (DIC) or other whole field strain experiment techniques along with mechanical testing
• Advanced characterization skills such as optical and high-resolution electron microscopy (SEM, TEM, EBSD)
• Working knowledge of thermodynamic, and/or phase field modeling tools for microstructure and phase transformation modeling and simulation of ferrite alloys and lightweight materials
• Familiar with multi-axis robotic system and program
• Design of fixture and other system with 3D CAD software (e.g., Solid works, etc.…) for experiment
• Understanding and electrochemical corrosion study of multi-material joints
• Excellent record of productive and creative research as demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals
• 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 or call 1.866.963.9545.

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.