DTRA Postdoc Scholars

Duties and Responsibilities

• Investigate scientific or technological areas of interest under guidance of a Mentor.
• Learn program management processes and help the Government guide research investments.
• Interact with operational military units to understand their needs, limitations, and potential concepts for employing new technologies.
• Support the evaluation of technical proposals, research findings, and research topics.
• Be flexible at learning and reviewing concepts beyond a narrow specialty.
• Other duties and responsibilities may arise as the candidate’s experience matures.

Experience Desired

• Knowledge in areas of physics, or engineering with a moderate understanding of data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence and the application of those tools to scientific problems.
• Data Science & Machine Learning: Advise program managers on the state-of-the-art application of data science and AI/ML, evaluating the technical merit of proposed algorithms and models to guide investment in next-generation wargaming and decision-support tools.
• Software Engineering: Assess proposed software architectures and development plans to ensure they produce robust, scalable, and interoperable applications that align with a common M&S framework and meet the operational needs of the warfighter.
• Numerical Physics & Engineering: Provide essential subject matter expertise by validating the scientific soundness of physics-based models in proposals and research, particularly for radiation detection, weapons effects, and consequence assessment.
• Ability to work in a highly complex environment, both individually and as part of a team, while showing initiative to learn about new scientific disciplines, think about new ways to solve a problem, and get involved in projects.
• Strong written and verbal communications.

Education Required

• Candidates must have a STEM Ph.D. or equivalent in physics, numerical physics, data science, software engineering, engineering, computer science, mathematics, or a related area (students who will have degree conferred within six months are encouraged to apply).

Eligibility & Requirements

• Candidate must be a US citizen.
• Candidates must be able to obtain a SECRET level security clearance.
• Candidates must pass a drug screen/background check.

Potential Career Paths

• A postdoctoral position with DTRA/RD-NTI offers technical skills and training relevant to federal program management and may lead to potential career opportunities such as:
• Government Program Manager
• Government Researcher
• Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) or Systems Engineering Technical Advisory (SETA) contractor supporting federal agencies
• Department of Defense or Department of Energy contract scientist/researcher