Requisition Id 11786 

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 Metals and Composite Processing Group in the Materials Science and Technology Division, Physical Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The candidate will contribute to the understanding of processing structure property relationships in large scale advanced manufactured components targeted towards replacement of casting and forging process. A strong background in physical metallurgy and mechanical behavior of materials is required. Applicants will be expected to collaborate with research staff and industry partners focused on various aspects of process modeling, in-situ monitoring, and large-scale fabrication techniques. The primary research location would be at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) – ORNL’s Hardin Valley campus.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Understand the processing-microstructure-property relationships in various ferrous and non-ferrous structural alloys.
• Size and temperature dependent mechanical property evaluation of AM processes including wire arc and laser wire direct energy deposition (DED) techniques.
• Multiscale characterization and defect/microstructure assessment of test articles and large-scale structures.
• Collaborate within a multi-disciplinary research environment consisting of computational scientists, experimentalists, and engineers conducting basic and applied research in support of the Laboratory’s missions.
• Present and report research results at workshops and conferences and publish key findings in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health, and quality program requirements per ORNL’s Standards-Based Management System (SBMS).
• Maintain strong dedication to the implementation and perpetuation of institution values and ethics.
• Support senior staff in the development and execution of projects that provide valued and timely deliverables to the various stakeholders.
• 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 and engineering, mechanical engineering or a related field completed within the last 5 years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background and expertise in physical metallurgy of ferrous and non-ferrous structural alloys.
• Background knowledge of material needs for large scale structural components.
• Experience and expertise in advanced manufacturing processes such as wire-arc and laser-wire direct energy deposition (DED) techniques.
• Understanding of mechanical testing and property evaluation of ferrous and non-ferrous structural alloys.
• 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.

A detailed cover letter outlining the applicant’s experience relative to the basic and preferred qualifications is required.

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 .

Special Requirements:

Visa Sponsorship:

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Export control, no clearance:  This position requires access to technology that is subject to export control requirements. Successful candidates must be qualified for such access without an export control license.

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.