Energy and Environmental Sciences Postdoctoral Research Associate

What You Will Do:

The Energy and Natural Resources Security Group (EES-16) within the Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has three immediate openings for Postdoctoral Research Associates. The selected individuals will primarily focus on one or two of the following areas: (1) CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) research, (2) hydrogen production, transport, and storage, and (3) methane emission reduction from orphaned oil and gas wells. The work will involve both developing new computational capabilities and applying existing and newly developed computational tools to address challenges related to the low-carbon energy transition and energy security. These postdoctoral researchers will join the Subsurface Flow and Transport team of EES-16 and collaborate with scientists within the group, other LANL groups, and external industrial and academic partners. We expect the postdoctoral researchers to publish their results in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and present their work at conferences. The term of the appointment is two (2) years, with the option to extend to a third year, depending on performance and funding availability.

What You Need:

Minimum Job Requirements:
  • Research experience in energy resources modeling.
  • Experience with computational methods such as optimization, machine learning, subsurface flow simulation, pipeline modeling, and/or large language models.
  • Proven record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Excellent communication skills, demonstrated through oral presentations at conferences.

Education/Experience:
  • Candidates must have received a Ph.D. within the last five years in a STEM field or will have completed all Ph.D. requirements by commencement of the appointment.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Familiarity with CCUS and energy production.
  • Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, Fortran, and MATLAB.
  • Experience in software development, including web-based applications.

Work Location:

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM.

Salary: Competitive salaries are based on the date the PhD degree requirements were completed or the degree was awarded. Starting salary for a new graduate is currently $94,500. For more information go to Postdoc Program website at https://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/postdoctoral-research/index.php

Note to Applicants

The application package should consist of a CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should explicitly address how you meet each of the minimum requirements and any of the desired skills, if applicable. In addition to applying online, applicants may also email their CV and cover letter to Dr. Bubul Ahmed (ahmmedb@lanl.gov), Dr. Bailian Chen (bailianchen@lanl.gov), Dr. Martin Ma (m.ma@lanl.gov), and Dr. Dan O'Malley (omalled@lanl.gov).

We understand that no applicant is expected to possess all of the desired skills; therefore, we encourage anyone who meets the minimum requirements to apply for this position.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
  • PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
  • Dental and vision insurance
  • Free basic life and disability insurance
  • Paid maternity and parental leave
  • Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
  • Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
  • Flexible schedules and time off (paid sick, vacation, and holidays)
  • Onsite gyms and wellness programs
  • Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.

New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-664-6947 option 2 and then option 3.

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