Postdoctoral Research Associate

Requisition Id 15287

­­Overview:
The Manufacturing Systems Analytics (MSA) group at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) conducts applied machine learning, decision science, and multi-modal sensor research and development for energy applications, with a focus on advanced manufacturing technologies. The MSA group consists of staff members with backgrounds in mechanical engineering, materials science, computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and optical engineering, and frequently collaborates with partners in industry, academia, and other government organizations. To support ORNL strategic research and development activities at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) ( ), we are accepting applications for Postdoctoral Research Associate positions. The selected candidates will conduct their research in the broad field of data science to develop new data driven methodologies to assess and to improve the quality of components fabricated using advanced manufacturing processes.

Purpose:
You will be working at the MDF to advance digital manufacturing technologies and to facilitate and accelerate their deployment to industry. The MDF is home to a wide array of 3D printing (e.g., powder bed, directed energy deposition, hybrid), machining, polymer, and convergent manufacturing systems which produce critical components out of advanced alloys and materials. These systems are instrumented and connected to a digital platform to facilitate the creation of digital twins of the physical components fabricated in the facility. These digital twins are leveraged to develop paradigm shifts in quality assurance, quality control, real-time process control, and design optimization for the United States.

In this digital environment, you will use large quantities of data to gain a greater understanding of our systems and develop data analytics and artificial intelligence algorithms. You will be actively engaged in the research and development of software and hardware techniques to explore three areas of interest: (1) real-time quality control of manufacturing processes; (2) understanding correlations between manufacturing intent, machine behavior, and part quality; and (3) optimization of manufacturing processes targeting higher throughput and part quality. You will have access to ample resources to be successful in this position, and therefore you are expected to publish new research in professional journals and to present your results to the scientific community at various conferences. With over 100 unique manufacturing systems at the MDF, you will have the opportunity to work on a variety of engaging projects and to explore multiple facets of data science while growing your skillsets and career and having a measurable impact on the success of the MDF.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Development of detection and measurement solutions for manufacturing systems
• Development of software and algorithms to collect, visualize, and analyze data
• Development of imaging and sensing systems for data collection
• Support the implementation of various algorithms for computation at the edge
• Design experiments for parameter space exploration
• Publish research in peer reviewed journals and conferences
• Mentor students
• Support R&D staff members on their projects
• General support of research and development needs within the MDF
• 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.

Basic Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, material science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or closely related field completed within the last five years.
• Experience in designing and building algorithms for 2D and 3D image understanding
• Demonstrated experience conceiving and executing research and development projects
• Substantial programming skills using Python or modern C/C++
• Experience with machine learning and deep learning libraries
• Experience building AI models in platforms such as TensorFlow, Keras, or PyTorch
• Experience with cameras, sensors, and real-time data acquisition or control
• The ability to work in a very dynamic team environment is required
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

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 (For postdocs, use ) with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• Login to your account via
• View Profile
• Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

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: or call

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

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.