Job Description

Requisition Id 15359

Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of wetland science, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence (AI). The successful candidate will play a key role in developing a multi-modal generative AI framework aimed at exploring how coastal wetland ecosystems across the Southeastern United States respond to environmental disturbances. This position resides in the Watershed Systems Modeling (WSM) group in the Environmental Sciences Division (ESD), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

ESD is an interdisciplinary research and development organization with more than 60 years of achievement in local, regional, national, and international environmental research. Our vision is to expand scientific knowledge and develop innovative strategies and technologies that will strengthen the nation’s leadership in creating solutions to help sustain the Earth’s natural resources. Our scientists conduct research, develop technology, and perform analyses to understand and assess responses of environmental systems at the environment-human interface and the consequences of alternative energy and environmental strategies.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

The selected candidate will have responsibility for:

• AI Model Development: Design, develop, and apply innovative AI models to analyze and predict the response of coastal wetlands to environmental disturbances.
• Data Integration and Analysis: Perform multimodal and multiscale data analysis by integrating a diverse range of datasets, including in situ observations, remote sensing products, and model simulations. Use these datasets to inform model development, calibration, and validation efforts.
• Collaborative Research: Work closely with a multidisciplinary team of Earth scientists, geospatial experts, and computational scientists to leverage leadership-class computing resources for large-scale model training, testing, and deployment.
• Knowledge Dissemination: Publish research findings in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and present results at leading national and international scientific conferences.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Build and maintain strong collaborations with researchers across DOE laboratories, academic institutions, and partner agencies to expand the applications of AI-driven coastal wetland modeling to broader environmental challenges.
• Safety and Compliance: Ensure compliance with ORNL’s safety, security, quality, and environmental standards while carrying out all research activities.

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in civil/environmental engineering, earth sciences, geospatial science, computer science, or a closely related field, completed within the last 5 years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior knowledge and demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas are required: 1) wetland science; 2) hurricane science; 3) remote sensing; 4) deep learning and AI, 5) high-performance computing.
• Experience using AI models is required; experience developing them is a plus.
• Experience processing and leveraging large, complex remote sensing datasets is advantageous.
• 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.

Please contact Dr. Phong Le (lepv@ornl.gov) with questions related to this position.

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 12 months with the potential for an extension of up to 24 months. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and the availability of funding.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can 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.

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