at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Springfield, Illinois, United States
Job Description
Overview
PNNL’s Earth System Science Division enables energy independence and national security through leadership in earth systems science, engineering, and decision analytics. Our work focuses on solving complex problems in the dynamic Earth system. Our interdisciplinary scientists steward a breadth of efforts that encompass research on plants to groundwater science and coastal zones, to storm prediction.
Our research focuses on understanding and mitigating operational risks at the interface of human and natural environments. This includes predicting the impacts of natural hazards and extreme climate events on Earth and human systems, along with the impacts of wildfire, flooding, sea level rise and storm surges. We focus on understanding and mitigating environmental contamination and increasing the resiliency, security and sustainability of water resources. We provide geointelligence through advanced sensing and data analytics to forecast complex system behaviors and operational performance to understand human-natural systems. This includes informed decision making and enhanced community resilience, advanced monitoring, and remote sensing of environmental systems for energy and national security. It also includes developing energy systems, including geothermal energy, sustainable oil and gas production, storage and utilization, along with carbon sequestration.
Driven by a “science-to-solutions” philosophy, we provide scientific leadership and technology to enhance national security, mitigate natural hazards and optimize disaster response. In the critical areas of energy, environment, intelligence, and defense, we deliver insights and decision support through the development of tools and solutions.
Responsibilities
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking post doctorate researchers who are excited to learn and contribute to environmental science and engineering. We are looking for emerging leaders wanting to make an impact in the world and advance our nation’s scientific understanding. There are a variety of research topics and areas that cover geochemistry, microbiology, computer science, chemistry, engineering, earth science and much more.
MSIPP is funded by the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM). DOE-EM is working to cleanup legacy radioactive waste found in soil, groundwater, and underground storage tanks. All research aligns with DOE-EM’s mission to safely immobilize and cleanup environmental legacy waste, focusing on cleanup of the Hanford Site which is one of the most complex DOE sites due to hazardous comingled contaminates. For more information, go to https://www.pnnl.gov/environmental-management-internship .
You will be completing meaningful research to help solve some of our nation’s biggest cleanup problems. For example, some projects look at visualizing contaminants of concern in the subsurface using geophysical modeling. Other projects look at safely transporting hazardous chemicals and discovering long-term forms to store this legacy waste. Once you’ve applied, we will be able to match your interests and career goals with a scientist or engineer who will mentor you throughout your postdoc. Postdocs typically begin in May. Start and end dates are flexible around university schedules.
The successful candidate will work with a diverse team of scientists on problems related to environmental management, with a specific focus on machinge learning for enhanced subsurface predictability. The position will involve using diverse subsurface monitoring data sets, including geophysical montoring data, to predict subsurface behavior and quantify the uncertainty in those predictions. The preferred candidate will have familiarity in the fields of data science and machine learning, numerical methods for subsurface simulation and high performance computing, demonstrated capability to publish in peer reviewed journals, and excellent verbal communication skills. The position is offered with remote working with occasional travel to PNNL.
This postdoc will advance your career by giving you real world research experience and connecting you with leading experts in your field. You will meet other researchers in multiple disciplines and be introduced to potential careers and various research opportunities. If you’re interested in making the world a better place, restoring the environment to its natural state, and gaining valuable research experience to launch your career, consider applying below.
All projects involving lab work will be located in Richland, WA. Projects focused on computer science or modeling may have remote opportunities.
To qualify you must have attended a Minority Serving Institution (MSI). MSIs are institutions of higher education enrolling populations with significant percentages of undergraduate minority students. Don’t know if your school qualifies? Ask us! Please email em.internships@pnnl.gov to find out more.
HOW TO APPLY******
Upload Resume or CV in “Resume” section only (note: If applying to multiple positions, the most recent resume uploaded will be used for all positions an applicant applies to).
Electronic applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. (PST) on the posting close date.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
+ Candidates must have received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.
Preferred Qualifications:
+ Graduate degree, preferably in geophysics, engineering, geology, computer science, machine learning, mathematics, statistics, or related field.
+ Familiarity with machine learning frameworks and their application (i.e. pytorch, tensorflow)
+ Familiarity and experience with scientific computing and numerical methods.
+ Experience with high-performance computing.
+ Experience working in Unix/Linux based computing environments.
+ Familiarity with geophysical modeling and inversion.
+ Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment
Not Applicable.
Additional Information
Not Applicable.
About PNNL
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!
At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, flexible work schedules and telework options. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State-the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.
Commitment to Excellence, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunity
Our laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment dedicated to solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. In support of this commitment, we encourage people of all racial/ethnic identities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other st
