R&D Staff Member - Building Envelope Materials Research

Requisition Id 17440

Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated R&D Staff Member to drive innovation in building envelope materials, systems, and whole building envelope assemblies. The successful candidate will focus on working with industry partners inventing, designing, and evaluating experimentally and analytically the heat and mass transfer characteristics of building envelope components from a benchtop material level to a whole building level. Systems for both new construction and retrofit applications in building envelopes will be studied.

This position resides in the Building Envelope Materials Research (BEMR) Group within the Buildings and Transportation Science Division, Energy Science and Technology Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This role offers the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in building science, leveraging ORNL’s world-class testing and simulation capabilities in material, system, and whole building hygrothermal performance.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct research on advanced building envelope materials and assemblies to improve performance and durability, reduce cost, and enhance the resilience of new and existing buildings.
• Design, develop, and evaluate scalable, cost-effective, high-performance materials and assemblies for building envelope applications.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across ORNL, including experts in material science, modeling and simulation, robotics, diagnostics, and computer science.
• Partner with researchers from universities, national laboratories, and industry to advance research and technology deployment.
• Develop research concepts and proposals for funding opportunities.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, and communicate findings through technical reports and presentations.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and program requirements.
• 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:

• Ph.D. in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, or a closely related field, with 2 to 5 years of relevant work experience or a M.S. in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, or a closely related field, with 7 to 12 years of relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in building science, including experimental and modelling capabilities, data acquisition, and performance evaluation.
• Knowledge of building envelope materials and assemblies and their applications in energy-efficient, durable, and resilient buildings.
• Demonstrated record of high-quality publications and technical presentations.
• Experience developing and contributing to competitive research funding proposals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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.
• Experience evaluating thermal insulation materials and systems including whole building field demonstrations.

Special 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.

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

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.