Requisition Id 12512
Purpose: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL, 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 Biodiversity and Sustainable Systems Section within the Environmental Sciences Division (ESD; at ORNL is seeking to hire two Post-doctoral Research Associates with the skills and creativity to apply water resources engineering knowledge towards the assessment and advancement of innovative water power and engineering development.
We are seeking qualified candidates who can bring unique skills in one or more of the following fields: hydrologic and flood inundation modeling, hydraulic engineering, stream temperature simulation, reservoir optimization, hydropower development and power system operations. The successful candidate should possess a robust understanding of hydrology, hydraulics and water resources with demonstrated capabilities in applying innovative quantitative and/or numerical techniques in cutting-edge water-energy studies.
In addition to the technical competencies outlined above, the successful candidate will have strong interdisciplinary teamwork skills as they will be expected to work with researchers in water resources engineering, computation, informatics, ecology, and environmental economics. The candidate will benefit from the unique capabilities at ORNL and will have the opportunity to develop cutting-edge research supporting clean, renewable, and sustainable energy. The candidate will be encouraged to present at major conferences and publish their work in top-tier water, energy, and interdisciplinary journals.
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: Conduct cutting-edge research in the fields of hydrology, hydraulics, and water resources management for energy-water security at various spatial scales, from river basin to national.
Develop, improve, and implement novel water power theories and technologies to promote the sustainable growth of national clean and renewable energy.
Lead and participate in research partnerships with industrial and academic partners.
Lead or contribute to proposals for future research related to clean and renewable energy development.
Publish high-quality, impactful, peer-reviewed journal articles and reports.
Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.
Basic Qualifications: PhD in Engineering, Physics, Environmental Science, or related discipline completed within the last 5 years
Preferred Qualifications: Experience in at-least one of the fields
Flood inundation modeling and mapping using 1D/2D hydrodynamics models
Hydrologic modeling and hydroclimate impact assessment
River basin planning using operation models such as RiverWare, WEAP, WRAP, StateMod, OASIS, WRIMS, HEC-ResSim
Water quality simulation using tools such as CE-QUAL-W2 and SNTEMP
Grid planning using resource build-out models or production cost models such as REeDS, PLEXOS, GridView
Hydropower (conventional and pumped storage) integration with emerging technologies such as renewables (wind, solar PV) and battery technologies
Field, laboratory, or numerical testing of hydraulic structures
Geospatial and remote sensing data analysis (e.g., GIS, Google Earth Engine)
Machine Learning applications in hydrology/water resources
Strong scripting and programming skills (e.g., R, Python, MATLAB, C, Fortran)
Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
Strong record of productive and creative research, demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences
Capability of working collaboratively in a team environment and interacting effectively with a broad range of colleagues across both national and international institutions
Other Information: Applicants should submit a cover letter and current CV with their application.
Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can upload these directly to your application or have them sent to with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.
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.
Moving can be overwhelming and expensive. UT-Battelle offers a generous relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions. If invited to interview, be sure to ask your Recruiter (Talent Acquisition Partner) for details.
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.
