Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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Postdoctoral Research Associate in AI, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and Nuclear Energy Oak Ridge National Laboratory in United States
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
The position is an employee postdoctoral appointment with competitive pay and benefits. Benefits include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision plans, 401(k), pension, life and disability insurance, vacation and holidays, parental leave, educational assistance, wellness programs, and other employee benefits. Relocation assistance may be available for certain positions. The appointment is initially for up to 24 months, with possible extension based on performance and funding availability;
Country
United States
University
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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About this position
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in AI and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States. The appointment is within the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division and the Multiphysics CFD Applications group.
The researcher will develop, qualify, and deploy AI agents, CFD simulation codes, and finite element method tools for nuclear fission and fusion applications. Projects may involve turbulence, heat transfer, magnetohydrodynamics, tritium transport in fusion devices, reactor-core and fusion-blanket simulations, reduced-order modeling, machine learning, Bayesian calibration, uncertainty quantification, verification and validation, and high-performance computing.
Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent experience in nuclear, mechanical, or chemical engineering, engineering physics, or a related discipline, completed within the last five years. Experience with Python, C or C++, CFD codes, finite element methods, parallel Linux computing, Git-based development, and ParaView is required or strongly relevant. Experience with OpenFOAM, Nek5000, STAR-CCM+, ANSYS, COMSOL, GPU computing, AI-enabled CFD/FEM, multiphysics integration, or fusion codes such as FESTIM, VertexCFD, and OpenMC is advantageous.
The appointment is initially for up to 24 months, with possible extension subject to performance and funding. ORNL provides competitive employee compensation and benefits, including health, retirement, leave, insurance, educational assistance, and potentially relocation assistance. Three reference letters are required. Apply through the ORNL careers portal; the posting may close after at least five days when a qualified candidate is identified.
Funding details
The position is an employee postdoctoral appointment with competitive pay and benefits. Benefits include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision plans, 401(k), pension, life and disability insurance, vacation and holidays, parental leave, educational assistance, wellness programs, and other employee benefits. Relocation assistance may be available for certain positions. The appointment is initially for up to 24 months, with possible extension based on performance and funding availability;
What's required
Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent experience in nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, engineering physics, or a related field completed within the last five years, and must fulfill all degree requirements before starting. Required experience includes Python, C, and/or C++ programming; applying and extending CFD codes to nuclear or similarly complex thermal energy systems; open-source codes such as OpenFOAM or Nek5000 and/or commercial codes such as STAR-CCM+, ANSYS, or COMSOL; finite element simulation methods; parallel Linux computing, job-submission scripts, GitHub or similar repositories, and parallel visualization software such as ParaView. Preferred qualifications include agentic scientific-computing workflows, Git-based code development, GPU computing, AI methods for CFD and FEM, multiphysics code integration, and experience with fusion engineering codes such as FESTIM, VertexCFD, or OpenMC. Excellent written and oral communication, independence, collaboration, adaptability, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines are expected. Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain the required federal or site-specific security credentials, including an HSPD-12 PIV badge or favorable LSSO determination, and satisfy applicable background and identification requirements.
How to apply
Apply through the ORNL careers portal using the direct application link. Submit the required application materials, including three reference letters, either through the candidate profile or by emailing them to [email protected] with the position title and requisition number 17011 in the subject line. The position remains open for at least five days and may close once a qualified candidate is identified or hired.
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Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.