Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0005220)

Johns Hopkins University; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University invites applications for a research position under the National Institute of Standards and Technology PREP program. The role involves supporting collaboration between NIST and academic partners to advance digital twin assessment in built environments.

You will help develop a foundational framework, design evaluation templates, and disseminate findings through guidelines, reports, and presentations, with a focus on maturity, functionality, and alignment with strategic

Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, or 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.

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 Twin knowledge

Communication skills

Open-source tools & standards

Education

Ph.D. in Computer Science/Engineering/Manufacturing

Job description

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first researchuniversity and home to nine world-class academic divisions workingtogether as one university.

Salary

$85,000 - $87,000

Johns Hopkins University: Whiting School of Engineering: Office ofResearch and Translation

Description

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards andTechnology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP).NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaboratewith researchers at academic institutions on specific projects ofmutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to berecipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from awide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research acrossvarious fields. Individuals in this position will perform technicalwork supporting the collaboration's scientific research.

Research Title

Assessment Framework for Digital Twins in the BuiltEnvironment

The work will entail

This project focuses on developing a foundational framework tosupport organizations in understanding, evaluating, and leveragingdigital twin technologies specifically in the built environment. Asdigital twins (DTs) continue to gain traction across industries fortheir ability to virtually replicate physical assets, there remainsa critical gap in how organizations assess the quality and value ofDT solutions, especially when services are procured from externalvendors. This project aims to address the maturity, functionality,and alignment of DT solutions with their operational needs. Theframework will serve as a decision-support tool for stakeholders tocritically evaluate vendor offerings and make informed choicesabout DT implementation. Additionally, this project represents theinitial phase in a broader effort to develop standardizedguidelines and templates for DT assessment. These resources willsupport transparency, promote consistency, and reduce ambiguity inDT-related procurement and deployment processes. By providing astructured approach to DT evaluation, the project will empowerorganizations to better manage risks, ensure return on investment,and accelerate the adoption of high-quality DT solutions that alignwith their strategic goals.

U.S. Citizen Preferred

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Lead the development of a structured framework for evaluatingdigital twin solutions, focusing on maturity, functionality, andalignment with strategic goals
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary stakeholders, includingindustry partners, to gather insights and validate theframework
• Design and validate assessment templates for digital twinprocurement and implementation
• Disseminate findings through guidelines, technical reports,conference presentations, and publications
• Support in contributing to the long-term roadmap for establishingDT evaluation standards.

Qualifications

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

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximumsalaries for this position and is based on Johns HopkinsUniversity's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not allcandidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range.The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may varyand will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may includethe successful candidate's geographic location, skills, workexperience, internal equity, market conditions, education/trainingand other factors, as reasonably determined by theUniversity.

Total Rewards

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

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity forits faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university doesnot discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status,pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age,disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity orexpression, veteran status or other legally protectedcharacteristics. The University is committed to providing qualifiedindividuals access to all academic and employment programs,benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability,performance and merit without regard to personal factors ordreographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the programinvolved.

Pre-Employment Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with Johns HopkinsUniversity and require special assistance or accommodation duringany part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HRBusiness Services Office at [e-mail] . ForTTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For moreinformation about workplace accommodations at Johns HopkinsUniversity for disabilities, medical conditions (including medicalconditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), accessibility, orreligious 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 backgroundcheck including education verification. When deciding whether acandidate’s conviction history is job-disqualifying, the Universityconsiders the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that haspassed since the conviction, and the nature of the job beingsought.

EEO is the Law

https://www.eeoc.gov/employees-job-applicants

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longerrequires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This changedoes not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must befully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proofof vaccination status.

We still require all faculty, staff, andstudents to receive the seasonalflu vaccine.

Exceptions to the seasonal flu vaccine or COVID-19 vaccine (forSOM) requirement(s) may be provided to individuals with sincerelyheld religious beliefs or medical conditions that preclude them from receiving the vaccine. Requests for an exception must besubmitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additionalinformation, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional vaccine requirements may apply,depending upon your campus. Please contact the hiring departmentfor more information.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas,laboratories, working with research subjects, or involvingcommunity contact requires documentation of immune status againstRubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella(chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received theTdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may includedocumentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicellavaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratorytesting. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases areordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except forthose candidates who provide results of blood tests or immunizationdocumentation from their own health care providers. Anyvaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no costin our Occupational Health office.

Purpose

The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the 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, computerscience, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics,nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, andstatistics.

Routine Uses

NIST will use the information collected toperform the requisite reviews of the applications to determineeligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine usesas identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1:NIST Associates.

Disclosure

Furnishing this information is voluntary. Whenyou submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent forNIST to use of the information you submit for the purposestated.

§ Strong oral and written communication skills.

Authority

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