Posting Title
Postdoctoral Researcher – Optimization and Machine Learning for Transportation Systems
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Location
CO - Golden
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Position Type
Postdoc (Fixed Term)
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Hours Per Week
40
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Working at NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.
NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.
Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.
We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.
Job Description
The Complex Systems Simulation and Optimization (CSSO) Group in the NREL Computational Science Center has an opening for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher in Modeling, Simulation, Optimization and Machine Learning (ML) and its application to the operation and planning of transportation systems, especially electrified transportation systems. We are looking for a dynamic researcher with a strong technical background to help us decarbonize and improve energy efficiency of transportation systems through simulations, optimization and machine learning.
The successful candidate will participate in research creating simulations based on real data, formulating and solving optimization problems that arise in the optimal control and operation of transportation systems, as well as processing and analyzing high-fidelity transportation data sets to formulate ML-based surrogate models useful for transportation systems planning purposes.
Our focus is primarily in planning and operation toward decarbonization of mobility systems. We seek candidates capable of pursuing research directions that involve effective utilization of the modern parallel computing architectures available at NREL as well as cloud-based computing resources. Candidates with creative problem-solving skills, interest in cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a passion for the mission and goals of both NREL and EERE are of particular interest.
Responsibilities:
- High fidelity simulation of operation and control of mobility systems.
- Adopt existing – or develop new – optimization methods and machine learning methods to address NREL problems in energy-efficient optimal planning, operation and decarbonization of transportation systems
- Model emerging technologies in transportation systems and develop high performance simulations.
- Author publications and contribute to proposals to sustain research directions.
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Basic Qualifications
Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
At least one of:
- Experience formulating optimization problems
- Extensive experience in python programming
- Experience in parallel computing
- Experience in (electric) transit bus system planning and/or operation
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with transportation systems modeling and simulation.
- Experience with developing surrogate modeling with machine learning.
- Experience with scalable machine learning frameworks, e.g, PyTorch.
- Experience with processing and analyzing spatial-temporal transportation system data.
- Experience in (electric) transit bus system planning and/or operation
- Experience working with diverse, inclusive, and cross-disciplinary research teams
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Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $73,200 - $120,800
NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
Benefits Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.
* Based on eligibility rules
Badging Requirement
NREL 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 required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.
Drug Free Workplace
NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.
If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.
Submission Guidelines
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.
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EEO Policy
NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
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