Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0005220)

Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University is seeking a PREP Research Associate to advance an assessment framework for Digital Twins in the built environment. The role focuses on evaluating maturity, functionality, and vendor alignment to organizational needs, with collaborations across academia and industry.

You will design templates, disseminate findings through reports and publications, and contribute to long-term DT evaluation standards as part of a broader effort.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field.
• Ability to understand, develop, and use applications related to Digital Twin solutions for buildings.
• In-depth understanding of current open-source tools and open standards related to buildings.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a structured framework for evaluating digital twin solutions, focusing on maturity, functionality, and alignment with strategic goals
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary stakeholders, including industry partners, to gather insights and validate the framework
• Design and validate assessment templates for digital twin procurement and implementation
• Disseminate findings through guidelines, technical reports, conference presentations, and publications
• Support in contributing to the long‑term roadmap for establishing DT evaluation standards.

Skills

Digital Twins

Framework design

Research collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field

Tools

Open-source tools for buildings

Open standards for buildings

Job description

PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields. Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration's scientific research.

Research Title:

Assessment Framework for Digital Twins in the Built Environment

The work will entail:

This project focuses on developing a foundational framework to support organizations in understanding, evaluating, and leveraging digital twin technologies specifically in the built environment. As digital twins (DTs) continue to gain traction across industries for their ability to virtually replicate physical assets, there remains a critical gap in how organizations assess the quality and value of DT solutions, especially when services are procured from external vendors. This project aims to address the maturity, functionality, and alignment of DT solutions with their operational needs. The framework will serve as a decision-support tool for stakeholders to critically evaluate vendor offerings and make informed choices about DT implementation. Additionally, this project represents the initial phase in a broader effort to develop standardized guidelines and templates for DT assessment. These resources will support transparency, promote consistency, and reduce ambiguity in DT-related procurement and deployment processes. By providing a structured approach to DT evaluation, the project will empower organizations to better manage risks, ensure return on investment, and accelerate the adoption of high-quality DT solutions that align with their strategic goals.

U.S. Citizen Preferred

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Lead the development of a structured framework for evaluating digital twin solutions, focusing on maturity, functionality, and alignment with strategic goals
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary stakeholders, including industry partners, to gather insights and validate the framework
• Design and validate assessment templates for digital twin procurement and implementation
• Disseminate findings through guidelines, technical reports, conference presentations, and publications
• Support in contributing to the long‑term roadmap for establishing DT evaluation standards.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field.
• Ability to understand, develop, and use applications related to Digital Twin solutions for buildings.
• In‑depth understanding of current open‑source tools and open standards related to buildings.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g‑1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)

Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post‑bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.

PREP is a 5‑year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure… NIST‑1: NIST Associates.

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

Total Rewards

Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors or demographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Pre-Employment Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre‑employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at [e-mail]. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations at Johns Hopkins University for disabilities, medical conditions (including medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), accessibility, or religious reasons, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.

Background Checks

After receiving a conditional offer, the successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre‑employment background check including education verification. When deciding whether a candidate's conviction history is job‑disqualifying, the University considers the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job being sought.

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Exceptions to the seasonal flu vaccine or COVID‑19 vaccine (for SOM) requirement(s) may be provided to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs or medical conditions that preclude them from being the vaccine. Requests for an exception …

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