Postdoctoral Research Associate - State & Community Energy Programs

Requisition Id14954

Overview:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the largest US Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. Our diverse capabilities span a broad range of scientific and engineering disciplines, enabling the Laboratory to explore fundamental science challenges and to carry out the research needed to accelerate the delivery of solutions to the marketplace.

The Integrated Building Deployment and Analysis (IBDA) Group in the Buildings and Transportation Science Division (BTSD) is seeking applicants for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) and Building Technologies Office (BTO).

The SCEP team consists of researchers, technical professionals, and software developers focused on conducting research in world-class facilities and deploying science-based knowledge in real-world applications. The position supports the U.S. DOE Weatherization Assistant Program and the weatherization network by developing tools and resources for building energy audit and health and safety assessment; providing training and assistance; supporting program and policy evaluation; developing or refining methodologies for enhancements of different aspects of Weatherization Assistant Program (https://weatherization.ornl.gov/softwaredescription/). This position requires working with the sponsors (DOE, states) and external entities (e.g., other national labs, weatherization agencies, consultants) to develop and demonstrate tools, resources, and methodologies. Candidate selection will be based on qualifications, relevant experience, skills, and education.

If selected, you will provide support to develop and demonstrate tools, resources, and methodologies for enhancements of different aspects of Weatherization Assistant Program to achieve energy savings and lower residential costs for eligible households, while improving human health and safety in occupied residences. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with in-house building scientists on cutting-edge research in areas such as building envelopes, HVAC systems, and building energy modeling.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead processes or assist the task lead in a range of subject areas and activities.
• Develop and/or evaluate new methodologies, including:
  • Evaluating energy conservation measure lifetimes using newly developed methodology
  • Quantifying monetizable non-energy benefits of residential building weatherization

• Create analysis tools in MS excel, python or similar language, as needed, to demonstrate and apply these methodologies.
• Specifying and testing new analysis tools in the Weatherization Assistant web-based software suite.
• Contribute to technical proposals for funding.
• Author technical reports.
• Present project outcomes to stakeholders.

• Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in building science, architecture, mechanical engineering, construction, or closely related field completed within the last 5 years.
• Familiarity with residential building envelope and HVAC systems-including single-family, multifamily, and manufactured homes-and whole-building integration and retrofit strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to independently identify and solve challenging technical problems.
• Commitment to ethical and professional values as well as maintain compliance with environmental, safety, health, and quality standards.
• Demonstrated ability to work creatively and collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary research team; highly organized and self-motivated, with strong interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written) to support team building, leadership, and engagement with Laboratory staff, sponsors, industry, and academia.
• Excellent communication skills for visualization and presentation of methodology, results, and demonstrations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience and demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Excel and programming skills in C, C++, Python, or Matlab.
• Expertise in building energy modeling (e.g., EnergyPlus, DOE-2)
• Experience in software tool development
• Strong expertise in data analysis
• Industry, and research and development experiences, especially in the fields of building energy efficiency.

Special Requirements:

Applicants cannot have received their PhD 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 up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You may 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

About ORNL

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, 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 or call 1.866.963.9545.

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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.