Postdoctoral Research Associate - Integrated Building Deployment and Analysis Group

Oak Ridge National Laboratory • Oak Ridge, TN

38d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate who will work with a multi-disciplinary group of experts in economics, engineering, software development, and building energy modeling on the economic and policy aspects of residential building retrofitting. The candidate will support econometric evaluation of the WAP implementation expectations and results. To accomplish the task, the candidate will work directly with WAP and software experts to identify, gather, curate, and analyze novel datasets not previously available to researchers. This position resides in the Integrated Building Deployment and Analysis group in the Buildings Materials & System Integration Section, Building and Transportation Science Division, Energy Science and Technology Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Energy Economics or related Applied Economics discipline with a strong quantitative focus.
• Demonstrable knowledge of applied econometrics and statistical evaluation methods, such as: Difference-in-Differences (DiD), Fixed-effects panel models, Matching methods (PSM, CEM, nearest-neighbor), Regression-based normalization, Longitudinal and cross-sectional data analysis.
• Experience working with large administrative or program datasets.
• Proficiency in statistical programming and data analysis tools: R, Python, Stata, or SAS.
• SQL/database management preferred.
• Ability to clean, harmonize, and analyze complex datasets from multiple sources.
• Experience developing reproducible analytical workflows and documentation.
• Demonstrable specialized communication skills: Proficient technical and scientific writing, Publication record in peer-reviewed journals or technical reports.
• Ability to present findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently and interact with a multi-disciplinary group.
• 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.
• A Real ID compliant form of identification will be required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card.
• Must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation.
• Must not have a declaration of illegal drug activities within the last year (including marijuana and cannabis derivatives).

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with federal data governance, privacy protection, and anonymization practices.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, state agencies, utilities, or national laboratories.
• Experience with policy evaluation and analysis using economic models.
• Experience with visualization and interactive application development in R and Python.
• Author or co-author of peer-reviewed literature publications.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Interacting with a team of experts at ORNL on projects evaluating the U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program and its efficacy in delivering the intended residential energy cost and other household direct benefits.
• Data collection, processing/curation, and analysis.
• Development and implementation of econometric analysis (e.g., difference-in-differences).
• Contributions to reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Collaborate with ORNL scientists involved in these efforts, to gain expertise in the economic analysis of energy program delivery relevant to the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy.
• 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