Postdoctoral Research Associate - Urban Energy Modeling, Grid-interactive Controls

Oak Ridge National Laboratory • Oak Ridge, TN

12d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate who will focus on urban-scale energy modeling. This position resides in the Grid Interactive Control Group in the Energy Systems Integration section, Electrification and Energy Infrastructure Division, Energy Science and Technology Directorate, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). 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.

Requirements

• A PhD in mechanical engineering, computer science, or a related field completed within the last 5 years.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Proven RDD&D experience in urban-scale building energy modeling.
• Experience planning and designing solutions for a variety of community projects, including community electrification and decarbonization.
• Understanding for creating, modifying, and analyzing OpenStudio and EnergyPlus building energy models.
• Strong software development skills for automation of many knowledge-based tasks in a version-controlled environment.
• Strong strategic planning, community engagement, communication, and public presentation skills.
• Prepare technical solutions, reports, and visuals to support a variety of planning project types, including transportation/grid, environmental, community, equity, and sustainability planning.
• Excellent communication skills for conveying technical material to both scientists and non-scientists in both written and oral presentations.
• Self-disciplined work ethic and eagerness to tackle challenging research problems
• Strong desire to work in a team environment.
• Excellent analytical skills with high attention to detail.
• Experience with geospatial data visualization tools such as ArcGIS, Cesium, or similar.
• Familiarity with urban-scale building energy modeling/analysis.
• Experience working in Agile/SCRUM teams.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated and conscientious self-starter with the ability to work independently, follow-up on all action items, and 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.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and create innovative ideas and solutions for urban planning, transportation, and grid integration issues, focusing on sustainability and resilience.
• Develop innovative equity-based planning principles and frameworks that can be applied to various urban environments.
• Monitor and evaluate multi-energy-system integration solutions to ensure they comply with regulations and standards.
• Develop and implement public engagement and outreach plans for community energy system integration.
• Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders and community members to ensure alignment with community needs and goals.
• 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.

Benefits

• medical and retirement plans
• flexible work hours
• on-site fitness
• banking
• cafeteria facilities
• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree