Posting Title
Postdoctoral Researcher - Marine Energy, Wave Measurement, Research, and Resource Analysis

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Location
CO - Boulder

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Position Type
Postdoc (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week
40

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Working at NREL
NREL’s 305-acre Flatirons Campus is the nation’s premier wind energy, water power, and grid integration research facility. Nestled south of Boulder, Colorado, and north of NREL’s main South Table Mountain campus, Flatirons sits adjacent to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and countless acres of open space and parks with stunning views of the Flatirons rock formations.

From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our eight employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.

Job Description

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado, is the nation’s primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The Hydropower and Water Systems Deployment group within the Energy Conversion and Storage Systems (ECaSS) Center is focused on engineering, validation, integration, and commercialization for marine energy and hydropower systems, as well as research to explore the optimal performance of renewable energy supported water treatment and delivery systems. Staff in Hydro & Water Systems have broad expertise, and include mechanical, electrical, systems, and ocean engineers, policy and regulatory analysts, technicians, commercialization experts, and project managers.

The Hydro and Water Systems Deployment group at NREL is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Researcher for:

• development, evaluation, and characterization of sensors and instrumentation
• laboratory and field testing ME systems
• data analysis, visualization, and management

NREL is leading national and international efforts to establish a robust testing capability for research and development (R&D) of marine energy (ME) technology, including wave, tidal, ocean current, offshore wind, and ocean thermal energy. This is a challenging task with significant opportunities for innovation and creativity because ME is nascent and the ocean environment is harsh. In support of this effort, NREL is working to develop testing technologies and methods that meet the needs of technology developers, universities, and test centers and advance standards organizations. As part of the Marine Energy Validation Team the Postdoctoral Researcher will work with researchers, engineers, and technicians to lead the evaluation and characterization of wave energy measurement technologies, develop wave measurement calibration methods, and research methods to improve wave measurement. Activities will include hands on testing at both laboratory and ocean sites.

The Postdoctoral Researcher must be able to:

• Work safely in laboratory and field settings, including offshore
• Perform complex time series and uncertainty analyses
• Plan and execute research in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of researchers and technicians
• Perform research on the large amplitude motion platform
• Communicate scientific results effectively, both in written and oral formats
• Author peer-reviewed publications
• Travel for durations of up to weeks

This is an excellent opportunity to develop skills and publish papers in ME testing and develop an international professional network within the ME sector.

For more information, visit:

• Water Research: Motion Platform
• PRIMRE

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Basic Qualifications
Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Knowledge of, and applied experience with, observational measurement technologies
• Proficient with Python or Matlab
• In depth understanding of spectral and time series analysis

Preferred Qualifications

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Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $71,300 - $117,600

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Drug Free Workplace

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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EEO Policy

NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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