Postdoctoral Research Associate - Machine Learning and Surrogate Models

Requisition Id 11930 

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.The Multiscale Methods and Dynamics (MMD) Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking qualified applicants for a postdoctoral position in machine learning and surrogate models.  Areas of interest include graph neural networks, federated learning, data-driven model reduction, and surrogate models for partial differential equations.  The position comes with a travel allowance and access to advanced computing resources.

The MMD group is responsible for the design and development of basic numerical algorithms and analysis necessary for simulating and understanding complex, multi-scale systems. The group is part of the Mathematics in Computation (MiC) Section of the Computer Science and Mathematics (CSM) Division. CSM delivers fundamental and applied research capabilities in a wide range of areas, including applied mathematics and computer science, experimental computing systems, scalable algorithms and systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning, data management, workflow systems, analysis and visualization technologies, programming systems and environments, and system science and engineering.  

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

The position requires collaboration within a multi-disciplinary research environment consisting of mathematicians, computational and computer scientists, and domain scientists conducting basic and applied research in support of the Laboratory’s mission.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Participation in the development and analysis of new computational methodologies for scientific problems, often customized to complex and large-scale scientific applications
• Delivery and support of mathematical technologies for various scientific disciplines and applications
• dissemination of research through peer-reviewed papers and technical reports, as well as seminar and conference presentation
• Active participation in professional organizations
• 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:

This position requires:

• A PhD in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Computational Science, or a related field completed within the last 5 years
• Experience working with modern machine learning software tools and frameworks
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills  
• Effective interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications:

One or more of the following are desired:

• Formal training in numerical analysis and/or numerical linear algebra
• Expertise in model reduction and surrogates
• Experience developing mathematical tools for engineering or science applications
• Experience in the design and implementation of scalable numerical algorithms on HPC architectures

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.

Instructions to Apply:

Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research statement, and three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can upload these directly to your application or have them sent to [email protected] with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.  For full consideration, please submit materials by December 1st, 2023. 

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: [email protected] .

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 [email protected].

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.