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Requisition Id 16613
Overview:
The Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Research & Analysis (MEERA) group of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is looking for a R&D Associate interested in working in the areas of life cycle energy impacts analysis, technoeconomic analysis, and deployment of energy, carbon, water, and material efficiency technologies in the manufacturing sector. You will join a team of scientists and engineers in the MEERA group which is a part of Energy and Industrial Processes Section at ORNL. Our team is part of ORNL's Manufacturing Science Division in the Energy Science and Technology Directorate. The MEERA Group supports a multi-laboratory Department of Energy (DOE) Strategic Analysis Team that conducts independent, objective, and credible research analysis to inform decision-making. To gain insights on manufacturing supply chains, the team conducts techno-economics, value chain, trade, patent, and global manufacturing competitiveness analysis relevant to advanced manufacturing technologies. The team builds and applies analysis tools and analytics to draw insights on the manufacturing sector's impact on energy, water, carbon, and materials productivity throughout the U.S. economy and to identify opportunities for improvement. Through the Industrial Energy Efficiency Program, the MEERA Group develops a diverse portfolio of industrial energy efficiency tools and resources which are delivered to the manufacturing sector through various technical assistance and training events worldwide.
The candidate will support MEERA Group's strategic analysis, life cycle assessments, and technoeconomic analysis activities of advanced materials, energy efficient and competitive industrial technologies for various DOE program offices. MEERA group's StA team has organized research into four core the `matic areas: 1) Process and Technology Assessments; 2) Subsector Analyses; 3) Cross-Sectoral Industrial Energy and Materials Flows analyses; 4) Industrial Modeling. The latest analysis focus of DOE's Industrial Technologies Office (ITO), Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO), and other Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) program offices such as technologies that can impact industrial energy efficiency and energy productivity, advanced industrial thermal systems, alternative feedstocks in chemicals, and technologies or approaches to support onsite or grid-provided energy supply availability and efficiency. The analysis needs also include overall assessments of the state or future of an industrial subsector or exploring the impacts of a specific technology or approach within a subsector (e.g., integrated biorefineries in pulp & paper, use of SCMs in cement & concrete sector).The candidate will work independently and with senior technical staff toward collecting data for all steps in development of manufacturing process flow sheets for the energy intensive industrial sectors to evaluate the life cycle economic, energy, and environmental impacts. The focus of these analyses is to understand the drivers the drivers of industrial improvement (which may include energy productivity, resiliency, and competitiveness) and evaluate incumbent and next generation technologies in a structured and transparent manner, with an emphasis on the timing/phasing of technology funding and deployment and provide information on projected mass and energy flows.
Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct techno-economic, value chain, and global manufacturing competitiveness analysis in the area of energy efficiency, water efficiency, and material efficiency.
• Analyzing the supply chain and material flows through a product's entire lifecycle can help to identify energy, material, and water savings opportunities throughout the greater U.S. economy, including the production and delivery of energy and energy use within the industrial, transportation, and buildings sectors.
• The successful R&D Associate candidate may also support in conducting the strategic analysis, LCA, TEA analyses for the office of clean energy demonstrations.
• The successful R&D Associate candidate may also support MEERA Group's industrial technical deployment (Better Plants) and Energy System Software Tools development projects. DOE's Industrial Technologies Office (ITO) offers a range of Energy System Resources, Activities, and Software Tools which are used to manage and optimize energy efficiency in industrial facilities. The selected candidate may support the development of new resources, training, and tools to support companies participating in the DOE's Better Plants program.
• 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:

• PhD in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, Public Policy in Energy and Environment, or related field.
• At least 1 to 2 years of excellent quantitative and analytical research background which can be applied to conduct research analysis on advanced manufacturing technologies and manufacturing systems that could achieve transformative gains in process productivity and enhance manufacturing sustainability.
• Strong analytical capabilities with experience in the area of life cycle energy and cost assessments for conducting manufacturing technology assessments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in energy efficient manufacturing technologies with an emphasis on life cycle and technoeconomic analyses.
• Experience in working in the genetic algorithm and artificial neural networks would be useful.
• Experience in manufacturing process modeling of advanced manufacturing technologies is valuable but not required. Proficiency in the use of industry standard modeling and simulation tools, such as spreadsheet-based process cost modeling, input/output modeling, and commercially available life cycle analysis tools such as SimaPro, openLCA, and GREET will be useful.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to make weekly presentations to sponsors and others and to prepare reports, proposals, and publications/journal articles is required.
• Strong interpersonal skills to support team building and leadership in addition to a strong commitment to scientific integrity is an important requirement.

Special Requirements:

• Limited travel will be required for this position.

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, and 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.
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.