Job Description

Requisition Id 15625 

Overview:

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to advance modeling and AI-driven analysis for magnetic quantum materials, with a focus on neutron scattering and related experimental data. This position resides in the Neutron Scattering Division,  Neutron Sciences Directorate at  Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and is embedded in the MAIQMag (Multimodal AI for 2D Quantum Magnets) collaboration. While located at the facility, the role is not primarily experimental; instead, the successful candidate will develop forward models, synthetic datasets, and AI tools that connect magnetic Hamiltonians to real experimental observables with a strong connection to facility instruments.

As a postdoctoral fellow, you will join a team whose research interests include quantum spin liquids, frustrated magnetism, excitonic magnets, and strongly correlated electron systems. You will work closely with theorists, experimentalists, and computer scientists to build robust, scalable workflows that enable reliable extraction of magnetic interactions from neutron and complementary measurements in a high-performance computing environment.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develop and apply computational models for quantum magnets and neutron scattering observables.
• Generate, document, and manage synthetic datasets (e.g. S(Q,ω), diffraction, thermodynamic data) for AI training and validation.
• Implement and optimize data representations and pipelines suitable for machine learning and uncertainty quantification.
• Collaborate with AI/ML experts to design and test inference methods that map experimental / synthetic data to underlying Hamiltonians.
• Publish scientific papers resulting from this research and present results at appropriate national and international meetings.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.
• As a member of the ORNL scientific community, you will be expected to commit to ORNL's Research Code of Conduct. Our full code of conduct and a statement by the Lab Director's office can be found here:  .

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD in physics, materials science, applied mathematics, computer science, or a related field, and no more than five years of experience beyond PhD.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in quantum magnetism, neutron or X-ray scattering, or strongly correlated materials.
• Experience with computational / theoretical modeling and scientific programming (e.g. Julia, Python, C/C++).
• Familiarity with high-performance computing environments.
• Interest or experience in machine learning, inverse problems, or AI for scientific data.
• Strong record of research productivity and ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team.

Special Requirements:

Applicants cannot have received their PhD 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 two 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

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.
• 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.

Benefits at ORNL:

We offer competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain hardworking people! The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for 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, and Employee Discounts. Relocation Assistance is available for certain positions.

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

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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