Seismologist Postdoctoral Researcher

Requisition Id 17364

Overview:

We are seeking a Seismologist Postdoctoral Researcher who will focus on application of seismo-acoustic phenomenology to support national and international security applications. This position resides in the Collection Science and Engineering Group in the Fuel Cycle Systems and Materials Analysis Section, National Security Materials and Signatures Division, Nuclear Security Sciences Directorate, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

As part of our team, you will contribute to a wide range of nuclear security initiatives, from research and development to technology deployment and technical assessments. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to identify, develop, and implement innovative solutions to nuclear security challenges. Your work will involve advancing seismo-acoustic techniques and methodologies, both novel and traditional, to enhance the detection and characterization of nuclear processes, as well as broader national security and threat reduction applications.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

The responsibilities of this position include conducting research and development in seismo-acoustics to advance nuclear nonproliferation and national security capabilities. The position also provides technical leadership in the development and implementation of innovative monitoring approaches, supports collaborative research efforts, and contributes to the advancement of ORNL’s seismo-acoustic capabilities. Specific areas of research and technical leadership include:

• Seismo-acoustic monitoring of industrial facilities and nuclear-related activities.

• Development and application of advanced techniques for detection, characterization, and location of microseismic events.
• Application of data science, signal processing, and machine learning methodologies to large-scale seismo-acoustic datasets.
• Design, execution, and analysis of field experiments to evaluate and advance seismo-acoustic monitoring capabilities.
• Development of innovative computational methods for extracting physical information from complex seismic and acoustic wavefields.

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Geophysics or a related discipline.
• Experience in processing, mining, and analyzing large-scale seismic and acoustic datasets.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, adaptability in applying these skills to diverse research challenges, and the ability to understand and communicate the broader context and implications of research findings.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically to support field experiments, research collaborations, and project activities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in seismo-acoustic signal processing and analysis, including familiarity with relevant methods and techniques.
• Working knowledge of machine learning methods and demonstrated ability to apply them to seismic and/or acoustic data.

• Proficiency in at least one modern programming language, with experience in Python, MATLAB, and/or Julia highly desirable.
• Familiarity and strong practical experience with Unix‑like command‑line tools (e.g., ssh, git, file navigation); exposure to HPC or cloud compute clusters is a plus.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present technical results clearly to scientific and multidisciplinary audiences.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to conduct research independently while contributing effectively to collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced research environment, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to evolving research needs.

Special Requirements:

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.

• Visa sponsorship is not available 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.

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

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.