R&D Assistant - Natural Gas Infrastructure Resilience

Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan

Retirement plan

Flexible working hours

Parental Leave

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks an R&D Assistant to study resilience of U.S. natural gas infrastructure during extreme cold-weather events. You will analyze disruptions, assess vulnerabilities, and develop technologies to improve infrastructure reliability.

Join a multidisciplinary team within the Building Envelope Materials Research Group, collaborating with universities and industry partners. The appointment is for 12 months with potential extension, and ORNL emphasizes safety,

Qualifications

• MS in petroleum engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, energy systems engineering, or closely related discipline.
• Strong background in energy infrastructure resilience, energy systems, thermal-fluid systems, or related area.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to support team building.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships through professional societies.
• Ability to work independently and in a diverse team.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced research environment and manage deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze data from past weather-related natural gas supply disruptions and study their impacts.
• Develop data-analysis methods to assess gas infrastructure performance and vulnerabilities.
• Design and evaluate cold-weather mitigation and protection technologies for critical infrastructure.
• Evaluate interdependencies between natural gas and electric power systems.
• Investigate physical mechanisms contributing to cold-weather disruptions (freezing, moisture, hydrate formation).
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams with ORNL researchers and utility stakeholders.
• Present research findings in peer-reviewed journals and to ORNL staff, DOE, industry, and academia.
• Assist in proposal development and preparation.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and program requirements.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Data analysis

Critical thinking

Relationship building

Self-motivated

Education

MS in petroleum/ mechanical/ chemical/ civil/ energy systems engineering

Job description

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the largest US Department of Energy (DOE) science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. Within ORNL, the Building Envelope Materials Research (BEMR) Group conducts research on materials, thermal management, infrastructure resilience, and technologies that improve the reliability and performance of energy systems to meet DOE’s energy affordability and resiliency goals.

We are seeking an R&D Assistant to study the resilience of U.S. natural gas infrastructure during extreme cold-weather events. The successful candidate will investigate the causes and consequences of weather-related natural gas supply disruptions, develop analytical approaches to evaluate system vulnerabilities, and assess technologies and operational strategies that can improve infrastructure resilience.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Collect and analyze data from past weather-related natural gas supply disruptions and study their impacts.
• Develop and apply data-analysis methods to assess natural gas infrastructure performance, vulnerabilities, and cascading impacts during extreme cold-weather events.
• Design and evaluate cold-weather mitigation and protection technologies, thermal protection strategies, moisture-control strategies, and protective materials for critical natural gas infrastructure components.
• Evaluate interdependencies between natural gas and electric power systems and assess how disruptions can propagate across interconnected energy infrastructure.
• Investigate physical mechanisms contributing to cold-weather disruptions, including freezing, moisture and condensation, hydrate formation, thermal effects, and equipment performance under low-temperature conditions.
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams that are composed of ORNL researchers and utility stakeholders.
• Interact and collaborate with researchers from universities, national laboratories, and private industry.
• Present research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results to ORNL staff, DOE, industry, and academia and the broader research community
• Assist in the development and preparation of proposals.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and program requirements.
• Maintain a strong commitment to the implementation and continuation of ORNL’s values and ethics.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.

Basic Qualifications:

• MS in petroleum engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, energy systems engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Strong background in energy infrastructure resilience, energy systems, thermal-fluid systems, or a related area.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to support team building.
• Ability to develop and/or maintain relationships through active participation in professional societies.
• Ability to work and demonstrate critical thinking individually and as part of a diverse team.
• Ability to develop and/or maintain strong relationships through active participation in professional societies.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
• Demonstrated record of publishing or presenting high-quality research.
• Self-motivated.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with U.S. natural gas production, processing, transmission, storage, or distribution infrastructure.
• Knowledge of natural gas system operations and gas-electric system interdependencies.
• Experience with statistical analysis, or analysis of large operational/weather datasets.
• Knowledge of thermal insulation, condensation, moisture transport, and corrosion under insulation.
• Familiarity with flow assurance, freezing, hydrate formation, or other low-temperature phenomena affecting natural gas systems.
• Experience working with utilities, government agencies, national laboratories, or industry partners.
• Experience communicating technical research through peer-reviewed publications and presentations.

Special Requirements:

Applicants must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be 12 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.

• 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.

• 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
• 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.

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.