R&D Associate - Economics

Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site fitness

Relocation assistance

Employee discounts

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) invites applications for an early-career R&D Associate in Economics within the IBDA Group, partnering with UT-ORII. The role focuses on building construction cost drivers, labor markets, and technology needs to enable affordable, energy-efficient, and resilient buildings.

As an ORNL staff member and UT-ORII fellow, you will engage with researchers from both ORNL and UT, mentor students, and contribute to innovative convergent research initiatives with broad

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in economics with background in building technologies assessments and affordability.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to support team building.
• Ability to work independently and in diverse teams.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships through professional societies.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on technologies to make building construction affordable, energy efficient, and resilient.
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams.
• Develop and implement techno-economic analysis.
• Present research results to ORNL staff, DOE, industry, and academia.
• Contribute to development of ideas for UT-ORII Convergent Research Initiative.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Critical thinking

Education

Ph.D. in economics

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 Integrated Building Deployment and Analysis (IBDA) Group. The IBDA group works to optimize the energy performance of residential and commercial buildings and residential weatherization programs through applied research, technical assistance, technology deployment, and program evaluations.

The IBDA Group, in partnership with the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII), is seeking an early career economist to contribute to groundbreaking research on building construction with the goals of lessening the shortage in skilled labor, increasing productivity, improving quality, enhancing safety, and lowering cost. As an ORNL staff member, the successful applicant will be part of a team of ORNL researchers and university research faculty in a UT-ORII Convergent Research Initiative focused on the development of state-of-the-art technologies for affordable manufacturing of energy-efficient, resilient buildings. In addition to being an ORNL staff member, since this role will be aligned with a UT-ORII convergent research initiative, you will also be considered a UT-ORII Fellow.

As an ORNL staff member and UT-ORII fellow, your career will develop in collaboration with researchers from both UT and ORNL through this early-career position at ORNL and with a Joint-Research Faculty (JFO) appointment at UT. As an integral part of the team, you will engage in a dynamic blend of activities. In addition to helping shape research programs, mentorship will be a key aspect of your role, guiding and inspiring graduate and undergraduate students. As a valued, early career researcher in both the ORNL Buildings and Transportation Science Directorate and UT-ORII, you'll have access to a rich network of resources, including seminars, training opportunities, and collaborations that will propel your career forward.

We are seeking an R&D Associate in Economics with a strong interest in identifying the key factors that are increasing the cost of construction and the technologies, markets and workforce that need to be developed to attain affordable buildings. Short-term goals are to identify minimal to moderate modifications to existing technologies or approaches that the construction industry is likely to be willing to adopt. Long-term goals will define major technical opportunities that the UT-ORII fellows from multidisciplinary backgrounds should tackle.

More About UT-ORII:

The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute is a partnership of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and UT created to prepare interdisciplinary leaders in energy, science, and technology and develop a world-class workforce for industry, government, and academia that will drive innovation and create the industries of the future. More information is available at University of Tennessee - Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (utorii.com). Today’s energy economy is driven by disruptive technologies and swift change. The US is in a global competition for jobs, talent, and investment. To successfully compete, we must develop leadership talent in research and development (R&D), encourage entrepreneurship, and create an educational environment that promotes rapid innovation and attracts skilled professionals. Leveraging a 75-plus-year UT-ORNL partnership, UT and ORNL have developed joint institutes, joint facilities, interdisciplinary PhD programs, and comprehensive joint faculty arrangements, including 17 Governor’s Chairs recruited for the significance of their impacts in their fields. UT-ORII’s overall goal is to become a center for convergent research and talent development, helping maintain US prominence as a global innovation leader and providing tangible benefits to Tennessee.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct research on technologies needed to make new building construction and retrofits of existing buildings affordable, energy efficient, and resilient.
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams.
• Development and implementation of techno economic analysis.
• Interact and collaborate with researchers from universities, national laboratories, and private industry.
• Present research results to ORNL staff, DOE, industry, and academia in the form of invited talks, conference papers, and peer-reviewed journal papers with high impact factors.
• Contribute to the development of ideas and the assembly of proposals relevant to the UT-ORII Convergent Research Initiative.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and program requirements.
• Maintain a strong commitment to the implementation and continuation of ORNL’s core values and ethics.
• 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 Ph.D. in economics with background in building technologies assessments and affordability.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to support team building.
• 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.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong, proven publication record in the assessment of building technologies.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
• Familiarity with DOE’s State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP).

Special Requirements:

• 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.

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
• 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.