Postdoctoral Research Associate - Electrochemical Systems Simulations
Overview:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory 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.
The Chemical Process Scale Up Group in the Manufacturing Sciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the area of electrochemical systems modeling. The Chemical Process Scale Up Group conducts research on clean energy solutions in the areas of biofuels, sustainable and resilient electricity, green chemical manufacturing, and CO2 capture and utilization.
The candidate will be expected to contribute to the large scale simulations for electrochemical systems and development of numerical algorithms and software. The research will be joint with the ORNL Computational Sciences & Engineering Division which focuses on transdisciplinary computational science and analytics at scale to enable scientific discovery across the physical sciences, engineered systems, and biomedicine and health. In this manner, the candidate will gain beneficial mentorship from both chemical process and computataional science experts spanning two of ORNL’s divisions.
The successful candidate will conduct research in the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to chemical intermediates appropriate for further conversion to fuels and chemicals. The research focus will be the construction of a multiscale model of an electrochemical system to enable predictive simulations of CO2 conversion processes at scale. The research will be conducted in collaboration with the Consortium for Computational Physics and Chemistry (CCPC) which is a multi-national laboratory consortium led by ORNL for the U. S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office.
Major Duties/Responsibilities:
- Collaborate within a multi-disciplinary research environment consisting of computational scientists, computer scientists, experimentalists, and engineers/physicists conducting basic and applied research in support of the Laboratory’s missions
- Participate in the development of numerical algorithms and software for the simulation of electrochemical systems for applications such as material synthesis, electrochemical reduction and separation processes
- Conduct analysis using computational tools to study catalysts performance for electrochemical CO2 conversion processes
- Participate in the design and architecture of integrated, multi-scale, coupled-physics computer codes, design and implementation of scalable numerical methods, uncertainty quantification, and following team planning, documentation, verification and validation, and software quality processes
- Successful candidate must author peer reviewed papers, technical papers, reports and proposals for internal and external release as well as represents the organization by giving technical presentations in large public forums
Basic Qualifications:
- A PhD in Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, or a related field with an emphasis on Computational Science completed within the last 5 years
- Experience in the development and application of numerical techniques for simulation of electrochemical systems.
- Expertise in one or more areas of particular relevance to simulations of interest such as multi-scale methods, coupled physics methods, and/or advanced verification, validation methodologies
- Experience working in a multi-disciplinary research environment
- Proven publication track record
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience in the design and implementation of numerical algorithms in one or more high-level computing languages, preferably within a team that follows software quality standards
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory
- Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs
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 for up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and the availability of funding.
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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.
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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.