Requisition Id 15400
Overview:
We are seeking a
Postdoctoral Research Associate – AI for Operational Safety
who will focus on developing AI solutions for several problems related to operational safety at ORNL and DOE sites. This position resides in the Performance Engineering group in the
Data and AI Systems Section
in
Computer Science and Mathematics division within Computing and Computational Sciences directorate,
at
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
(ORNL).
This role lies at the exciting intersection of Operations and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at scale, with a particular focus on Generative AI for Risk Forecasting, Large Language Models (LLMs), and Human-in-the-Loop AI Systems. Our aim is to advance AI for Operations by integrating next-generation AI agents and LLMs with real-world operational safety and risk management needs at scale.
Key research areas
include AI-driven Risk Analysis, where the focus is on the research and development of large-scale language models and agentic systems for forecasting hazardous events, identifying high-risk infrastructure properties, and supporting human decision-making through natural language explanations. This includes techniques such as instruction-tuned LLMs, reinforcement learning with human feedback (RLHF), and agent-based orchestration for analyzing unstructured operational data. The position further encompasses several problems related to AI for Operations, where the goal is to build scalable, semi-automated, human-in-the-loop AI solutions for DOE and national infrastructure. Focus areas include hazard identification, predictive risk analysis, incident trend forecasting, and dynamic safety modeling using Generative AI techniques. The role will involve working with LLMs and AI agents to process, generate, and reason over large volumes of historical and real-time data.
The role also involves Responsible AI, which explores safety-critical LLM alignment, AI robustness under uncertainty, and the development of trustworthy, explainable, and privacy-aware models.
Major Duties/Responsibilities:
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-Collaborate with internal and external researchers on a variety of AI/ML-related research and development projects under the AI for Operations umbrella project.
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-Develop, fine-tune, and evaluate large-scale Generative AI models and agentic systems to support semi-automated, human-in-the-loop systems for AI for Operations.
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-Present and report research results and publish scientific findings in top-tier AI/ML/NLP peer-reviewed conferences and journals in a timely fashion.
-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:
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-Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, AI/ML, or a closely related field.
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-Demonstrated experience in AI/ML model development, LLM tuning, generative AI, functional safety and risk analysis.
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-Proficiency in Python, with experience in PyTorch, TensorFlow, and common ML libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, pandas).
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-Publication record in peer-reviewed journals or top-tier AI/NLP/ML conferences.
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-Strong communication and scientific writing skills.
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-Ability to work both independently and in large-scale, collaborative research teams.
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-Experience with deep neural networks.
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-Familiarity with NLP packages, pipelines, toolkits (spaCy, NLTK), LLMs and Hugging Face Transformers.
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-Familiarity with Vector databases, RAG and agentic AI frameworks.
Preferred Qualifications:
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-Having experience on risk, vulnerability analysis with AI, LLM safety
-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.
Special Requirements:
Postdocs:
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.
Letters of Recommendation:
Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You may upload these directly to your application or have them sent to
ORNLRecruitingornl.gov
(For postdocs, use
Postdocrecruitmentornl.gov
) with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.
Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:
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-Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
-View Profile
-Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document
HSPD-12 PIV badge:
This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.
This is a temporary 24-month position. 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.
Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:
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.
If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruitingornl.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, Apply ORNLRecruitingornl.gov.
ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged . UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.
