Postdoctoral Research Associate - Gas Dynamics, Fluid Flow, and Mass Transfer

This position resides in the Applied Materials Analysis group within the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division of the National Security Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and extend models of gas transport and process behavior in industrial systems
• Collaborate with a team of scientists from across the national laboratory complex on modeling efforts
• Extend process flow modeling across material, device, and process scales
• Plan and execute experiments to support and augment modeling efforts
• Conduct simulations using state-of-the-art tools to supplement model development
• Contribute to research proceedings and publications
• Prepare technical reports
• Deliver briefings to stakeholders

Requirements

• A PhD in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Applied Physics, or a related field
• Experience with gas dynamics, pressure drop, and flow through complex systems
• Experience with mass transfer, diffusion, convection, and coupled heat/mass transport
• Experience with process flow analysis, material and energy balances, and process performance metrics
• Demonstrated ability to communicate well in a team environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with safety hazards associated with industrial gases
• Fluency in reading and interpreting process engineering diagrams
• Experience developing or working with experimental gas flow systems and gas analysis methods
• Computational or process modeling using tools such as Python, MATLAB, Aspen, COMSOL, Fluent, or OpenFOAM
• Experience with high performance computing environments
• Experience working in a classified environment

Special Requirements

• 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 up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position, requiring passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program. Due to the SCI, you may also be subject to random polygraph testing.

Benefits

• 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
• Employee Discounts
• On-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities
• Flexible work hours

ORNL is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory with an 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team includes over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals, and we aim to create an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are valued.