Requisition Id 11924 

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 developing and applying machine learning and statistical methods to analyze multi-modal imaging and spectroscopic data pertaining to biological pathogens on surfaces from a variety of experimental and theoretical sources. This position resides in the Data NanoAnalytics (DNA) group in the Theory and Computation section, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Physical Sciences Directorate, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  

In this role, you will work as part of an interdisciplinary team from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and partner Universities on a project that is funded by the DOE Biopreparedness Research Virtual Environment (BRaVE) initiative . As a team member, you will gain experience in developing tight feedback loops between synthesis, theory, and characterization. You will also work closely with CNMS staff to realize automated analysis routines and data pipelines across multiple divisions to establish workflows of continually updated models that can be interrogated for optimal design of experiments.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Develop and apply machine learning and statistical analysis methods on multimodal datasets arising from electron microscopy, neutron reflectometry, atomic force microscopy, and theoretical simulations
• Support the development of analysis pipelines for experimental and simulated datasets
• 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 Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, or a related field completed within the last 5 years
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in machine learning applied to problems in the physical, biological, and/or chemical sciences
• Experience with python programming

Preferred Qualifications:

• A record of contributions verifiable on an online code repository
• Experience with databases and/or computational workflows
• 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.