Postdoctoral Research Associate

Requisition Id15447

Overview:

The Data and AI Systems Research Section/Workflow systems Group within the Computer Science and Mathematics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in data management, workflow management, High Performance Computing (HPC), machine learning and Artificial Intelligence to enhance our capabilities in making AI-ready scientific data. As a postdoctoral fellow at ORNL, you will collaborate with a dynamic team of scientists and engineers, leveraging cutting-edge resources; most notably theFrontier supercomputer, the world's first exascale computing system. This is a unique opportunity to engage in transformational research that advances the development of AI-ready scientific data, optimized workflows, and distributed intelligence across the computing continuum.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to lead and contribute to cutting-edge research aimed at transforming scientific data management and workflows to enable AI-readiness at scale. You will work on designing system software for automating processes such as intelligent data ingestion, preservation of data/metadata relationships, and distributed optimization of machine learning workflows. Collaborating with world-class scientists, you will enhance your expertise in resource optimization, scalable computing techniques, fault resilience, and advanced AI applications. This role offers unparalleled access to ORNL's world-leading computational resources, including theFrontier supercomputer, and the chance to make meaningful contributions to DOE's mission-critical scientific domains.

Roles and responsibilities include, but not limited to, one or more of the following:

• Design and implement system softwareto enable AI-readiness for scientific data by developing adaptive techniques capable of maintaining relationships between data and metadata.
• Collaborate on innovative solutions to automate and optimize the interplay between large scientific simulations, data ingestion, and AI processes (e.g., model training, inference).
• Developagentic AI systems and AI harnessing techniquesto enhance model quality, resource optimization, and adaptive execution in diverse workflows.
• Investigate strategies to balanceperformance and resilienceacross heterogeneous computational resources while addressing workflow requirements for scientific applications.
• Validate distributed intelligence algorithms at scale on ORNL's computational resources, including the Frontier supercomputer, addressing critical challenges in science and engineering.

• Communicate and coordinate experimental results with other domain experts to facilitate collaboration.
• Present and report research results and publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals or conferences.

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Computational Science, or related discipline completed within the last five years.
• An excellent record of productive and creative research as demonstrated by publications in top peer-reviewed journals and conferences
• Demonstrated research experience with HPC, AI/ML and/or distributed systems techniques.

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, or similar, as well as experience with HPC environments and parallel computing.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience and understanding of developing scientific data management, workflows and resource management problems.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a team setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience withAI-readiness pipelines, particularly in integrating scientific data with AI workflows.
• Familiarity with concepts like metadata management, parameter space coverage, or agentic AI.
• Prior exposure to DOE workflows or national laboratory environments
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative and frequently interacting teams of researchers.

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.

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

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:
For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:
If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

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

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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.