Postdoctoral Research Associate - Data Science for Advanced Manufacturing

About the role

We are accepting applications for Postdoctoral Research Associate positions in Data Science for Advanced Manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and integrate imaging and other sensing modalities for data collection and monitoring in manufacturing environment
• Develop modular, extensible workflows for data processing
• Develop and deploy data analytics, machine learning, and statistical modeling methods for multimodal manufacturing datasets, including sensor streams, in-process signals, post-process characterization data, simulation outputs, and digital twin data
• Develop, integrate, and evaluate AI/ML models for anomaly detection, predictive modeling, process optimization, and automated decision support, including real-time and edge deployment
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to provide sensing, computational, and analytical expertise across projects
• Support broader research and development activities within the MDF
• 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

Qualifications

• PhD. in mechanical engineering, material science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, data science, applied mathematics, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated experience with multimodal data acquisition, data analytics, statistical modeling, and machine learning in manufacturing environment
• Proficiency in Python and common data science and machine learning libraries (e.g., NumPy, Pandas, SciPy, scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow)
• Experience developing and deploying machine learning or deep learning models
• Ability to present complex results to multidisciplinary teams, including engineering, scientific, and operational stakeholders
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with manufacturing, materials, and sensor data
• Experience with real-time, time-series or streaming data systems and edge AI deployment
• Experience building and maintaining data processing pipelines for structured and unstructured data
• Experience with multimodal datasets (e.g., imaging, time-series, and process data)
• Experience with API-based data services, workflow automation, or integration of analytics into production systems
• Knowledge of experimental design, uncertainty quantification, scientific machine learning, or digital twin methodologies