Job Description

Requisition Id 14692 

Overview:

Do you have a passion for applying AI methods for accelerating scientific discoveries and an ability to think outside of the box in a collaborative and open environment? If so, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Learning Systems Group within the Data and Artificial Intelligence Systems section invites you to apply to our new postdoctoral research associate position in AI for science.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will help solve some of the most challenging problems faced by the nation. You will perform groundbreaking research on a wide range of significant problems, and you will apply your work to exciting research in multi-disciplinary domains alongside globally recognized experts. You will bring creative thinking, teamwork, and machine learning skills to bear as you develop new methods to address scientific and engineering problems, collaborate with leaders in your field and across the laboratory, while working with the world’s fastest computers, and disseminate innovative results through publications and presentations.

The Learning Systems Group at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory focuses on artificial intelligence and computational research and applies this knowledge to support the nation’s leading initiatives. We hire top researchers who are ready to tackle the hardest problems faced by both the US and the world. Researchers of the Learning Systems group are changing the world with their research, and we are committed to hiring and retaining highly motivated, energetic, and creative individuals that will help us continue our breakthrough scientific endeavors.

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research in the general areas of AI for science, focusing on high-impact scientific problems
• Apply state-of-the-art AI techniques in high-impact application areas such as small molecule drugs, materials, and other application domains
• Collaborate with regulatory agencies to develop solutions that support decision-making processes.
• Build strong collaborations within ORNL and across the global research community.
• Publish groundbreaking research in top-tier machine learning conferences and journals.
• Be a part of a collaborative research environment which will provide the opportunity to perform cutting-edge research in deep learning and scientific computing.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in computer science, computational science, data science, artificial intelligence, or related field completed within the last 5 years or to be expected in 2025.
• Demonstrated experience working with machine learning and data analytics using tools in programming languages such as Python, PyTorch, Pandas, Scikit Learn, etc., in applied problem-solving contexts.
• Understanding of machine learning algorithms (gradient descent, random forests, etc.) and deep neural network architectures (ResNet and Transformers).
• A broad understanding of machine learning methodologies and data science methodologies and techniques, (e.g. supervised and unsupervised learning, feature selection/engineering, hyperparameter optimization, dimensionality reduction, embeddings, etc.)
• Understanding of computational scaling techniques for machine learning and high-performance computing

Preferred Qualifications:

• A strong publication record demonstrating either core machine learning capabilities or novel applications of machine learning.
• Expertise in deep learning techniques such as transformers, LLM, GNN, generative models OR advance matrix method such as matrix/tensor completion, non-negative factorization OR anomaly detection
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines and adapt to 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.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You may upload these directly to your application or have them sent to recruiting@ornl.gov 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

About ORNL

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.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

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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 ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

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.

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