Overview: 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the largest US Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate who will support the Nanomaterials Theory Institute (NTI) in the Center for Nanophase Materials Science Division (CNMSD), Physical Sciences Directorate (PSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).   

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will support research directed towards a rigorous theoretical understanding of layered ferroic materials and discovery of such new 2D materials for targeted applications.  These materials show a wide range of coupled properties, such as magnetism, ferroelectricity, topological protection, among others, that vary as we go to the quantum limit, and can be manipulated by stacking and/or applying external fields for next generation computing applications. The goal is to combine scalable density functional theory (DFT) approaches (such as real-space DFT, DFTB) and beyond-DFT approaches for solids (such as GW, DMFT, QMC), with advanced AI/ML algorithms, to both reveal the nature of these couplings, and discover improved materials with emergent properties, particularly as we reach the quantum limit. A key challenge is to predict materials with high degree of metastability, which have particular promise for computing and energy technologies.

As a Postdoctoral Research Associate, you will contribute to research in these areas, bridging state-of-the-art large-scale electronic-structure based approaches (such as real-space DFT, DFTB),  beyond-DFT methods (such as GW, DMFT, QMC), and domain-informed AI/ML algorithms. In addition to fundamental science discovery, the research will pursue development of approaches that allows integration of theory & simulation with autonomous experiments. The research is designed to provide opportunities for development of your experience and scientific vision. The applicant will also work closely with scientists at ORNL who are experimentally investigating layered ferroics and their heterostructures, using a wide range of nanoscale measurements, such as SPM, STEM, STM, as well as optical and neutron-scattering measurements.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Conduct research to apply and/or develop (correlated) electronic-structure methods to understand and design layered ferroic materials
• Apply and/or develop AI/ML algorithms to accelerate targeted materials discovery and their understanding
• Meaningfully collaborate with experimental groups at CNMS, and actively contribute to core science projects
• Report and publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner
• Present results at international scientific conferences and meetings

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a closely related field completed within the last 5 years
• Strong background and hands-on experience in applying and/or developing (correlated) electronic structure methods for materials
• Strong publication list using electronic structure methods

Preferred Qualifications:

• Good grasp of concepts in solid-state physics, topological condensed matter theory and/or quantum chemistry
• Familiarity with correlated electronic structure methods, particularly QMC or GW or DMFT
• Strong demonstrated background in coding for data analysis using Python, MATLAB, etc. with knowledge or keen interest to meaningfully incorporate advanced AI/ML methods into their research 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to 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

To be considered for this position, you must submit an application via the ORNL job site:

https://jobs.ornl.gov/job/Oak-Ridge-Postdoctoral-Research-Associate-Theory-and-Inverse-Design-of-Layered-Ferroics-TN-37830/854682100/ 

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can upload these directly to your application or have them sent to [email protected] with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
• View Profile
• Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

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 for up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and the availability of funding.

Moving can be overwhelming and expensive. UT-Battelle offers a generous relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions. If invited to interview, be sure to ask your Recruiter (Talent Acquisition Partner) for details.

For more information about our benefits, working here, and living here, visit the “About” tab at jobs.ornl.gov.

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.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email [email protected].

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.