R&D Associate - Life Cycle Assessment

Requisition Id14748

Overview:

The Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Research & Analysis (MEERA) group of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is looking for a R&D Associate interested in working in the areas of life cycle energy impacts analysis, techno-economic analysis, and deployment of energy, carbon, water, and material efficiency technologies in the manufacturing sector. You will join a team of scientists and engineers within the Energy and Industrial Decarbonization Section of ORNL's Manufacturing Science Division, part of the Energy Science and Technology Directorate.

The MEERA Group supports a multi-laboratory Department of Energy (DOE) Strategic Analysis Team which conducts independent, objective, and credible research analysis to inform decision-making. The team conducts techno-economics, value chain, trade, patent, and global manufacturing competitiveness analysis relevant to advanced manufacturing technologies. Additionally, the team builds and applies analysis tools and analytics to draw insights on the manufacturing sector's impact on energy, water, carbon, and materials productivity throughout the U.S. economy and to identify opportunities for improvement. Through the Industrial Energy Efficiency Program, the MEERA Group develops a diverse portfolio of industrial energy efficiency tools and resources which are delivered to the manufacturing sector through various technical assistance and training events worldwide.

You will support MEERA Group's strategic analysis and modeling research activities of advanced materials and energy efficient manufacturing technologies for various DOE program offices. MEERA group's strategic analysis team has organized research into four core thematic areas: 1) Process and Technology Assessments; 2) Subsector Analyses; 3) Cross-Sectoral Industrial Energy and Materials Flows analyses; 4) Industrial Modeling. The latest analysis focus of DOE's Industrial Energy & Decarbonization Office (IEDO), Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO), and other Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) program offices such as technologies that can impact industrial energy efficiency and energy productivity, advanced industrial thermal systems tools or assessments, alternative feedstocks in chemicals, and technologies or approaches to support onsite or grid-provided energy supply availability and efficiency. The analysis needs also include overall assessments of the state or future of an industrial subsector or exploring the impacts of a specific technology or approach within a subsector (e.g., waste reduction technologies for food manufacturing and supply chain). You will work independently and with senior technical staff toward collecting data for all steps in development of manufacturing process flow sheets for the manufacturing of next generation materials for different potential market applications to evaluate the life cycle economic, energy, and environmental impacts. The focus of these analyses is to understand the drivers of industrial improvement (which may include energy productivity, resiliency, and competitiveness) and evaluate incumbent and next generation technologies in a structured and transparent manner, with an emphasis on the timing/phasing of technology funding and deployment and provide information on projected mass and energy flows.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct techno-economic, value chain, and global manufacturing competitiveness analysis in the area of energy efficiency, water efficiency, and waste reduction.
• Analyze the entire lifecycle of products, identifying energy, material, and water savings opportunities across sectors such as industrial, transportation, and buildings.
• Support MEERA Group's industrial technical deployment (Better Plants) and Energy System Software Tools development projects. DOE's Industrial Energy & Decarbonization Office (IEDO) offers a range of energy system resources, activities, and software tools which are used to manage and optimize energy efficiency in industrial facilities.
• Support the development of new resources, training, and tools to support companies participating in the DOE's Better Plants program.
• 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:

• PhD in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, public policy in energy and environment, or related field.
• At least 1 year of excellent quantitative and analytical research background which can be applied to conduct research analysis on advanced manufacturing technologies and manufacturing systems that could achieve transformative gains in process productivity and enhance manufacturing sustainability.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in life cycle energy and cost assessments for conducting manufacturing technology assessments.
• Willingness to travel (limited travel required).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in sustainable manufacturing technologies with an emphasis on circular economy research.
• Familiarity with genetic algorithm and artificial neural networks.
• Experience in manufacturing process modeling of advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Experience with industry-standard tools such as SimaPro, openLCA, GREET, and spreadsheet-based process cost modeling is a plus.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills for presenting to sponsors, to prepare reports, proposals, and publications/journal articles.
• Strong interpersonal skills to support team building and leadership in addition to a strong commitment to scientific integrity is an important requirement.

Special Requirements:

Limited travel will be required for this position.

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 to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

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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.