Postdoctoral Research Associate - Urban Energy Modeling, Grid-interactive Controls

Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and retirement plans

Flexible work hours

On-site fitness and amenities

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate focused on urban-scale energy modeling within the Grid Interactive Control Group. The role emphasizes research on sustainable urban energy systems and grid integration, with duties spanning modeling, planning, and stakeholder engagement.

The ideal candidate will hold a PhD in a related field, possess OpenStudio/EnergyPlus expertise, and have experience in geospatial visualization and Agile/SCRUM teamwork.

Qualifications

• PhD completed within the last 5 years in a related field.
• Experience in urban-scale building energy modeling.
• Experience with OpenStudio and EnergyPlus building energy models.
• Strong software development skills for automation in a version-controlled environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and develop urban-scale energy modeling solutions for planning, transportation, and grid integration.
• Develop equity-based planning principles for diverse urban environments.
• Monitor and evaluate multi-energy-system integration for regulatory compliance.
• Develop and implement public engagement plans for community energy system integration.
• Establish relationships with stakeholders to ensure alignment with community needs and goals.
• Promote ORNL values and foster a respectful, inclusive workplace.

Skills

Urban energy modeling

OpenStudio

EnergyPlus

Geospatial visualization

ArcGIS

Cesium

Agile/SCRUM

Python

Team collaboration

Automation scripting

Education

PhD in mechanical engineering or computer science or related field

Tools

Git

Python (automation)

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Urban Energy Modeling, Grid-interactive Controls

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate who will focus on urban-scale energy modeling. This position resides in the Grid Interactive Control Group in the Energy Systems Integration section, Electrification and Energy Infrastructure Division, Energy Science and Technology Directorate, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct research and create innovative ideas and solutions for urban planning, transportation, and grid integration issues, focusing on sustainability and resilience.
• Develop innovative equity-based planning principles and frameworks that can be applied to various urban environments.
• Monitor and evaluate multi-energy-system integration solutions to ensure they comply with regulations and standards.
• Develop and implement public engagement and outreach plans for community energy system integration.
• Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders and community members to ensure alignment with community needs and goals.
• 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 PhD in mechanical engineering, computer science, or a related field completed within the last 5 years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven RDD&D experience in urban-scale building energy modeling.
• Experience planning and designing solutions for a variety of community projects, including community electrification and decarbonization.
• Understanding for creating, modifying, and analyzing OpenStudio and EnergyPlus building energy models.
• Strong software development skills for automation of many knowledge-based tasks in a version-controlled environment.
• Strong strategic planning, community engagement, communication, and public presentation skills.
• Prepare technical solutions, reports, and visuals to support a variety of planning project types, including transportation/grid, environmental, community, equity, and sustainability planning.
• Excellent communication skills for conveying technical material to both scientists and non-scientists in both written and oral presentations.
• Self-disciplined work ethic and eagerness to tackle challenging research problems
• Strong desire to work in a team environment.
• Excellent analytical skills with high attention to detail.
• Experience with geospatial data visualization tools such as ArcGIS, Cesium, or similar.
• Familiarity with urban-scale building energy modeling/analysis.
• Experience working in Agile/SCRUM teams.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated and conscientious self-starter with the ability to work independently, follow-up on all action items, and 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.

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.

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.

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.