Postdoctoral Researcher - Energy Systems Modeling
Berkeley Lab
Summary
Berkeley Lab's Energy Analysis (EA) Division performs innovative research to achieve competitive, affordable, and reliable energy systems. In this role, you will participate in several multi-disciplinary projects that will develop process models, technical performance benchmarks, and prospective technoeconomic assessments related to critical gas (NH3, H2, He, CO2) and solids (K, CMM) separations, energy generation and chemical production. This position will interface closely with experimentalists to develop mechanistic and physics-informed models of material-based technologies within integrated system models. Constructing and optimizing models in ASPEN and the application of machine learning for high-throughput scenario modeling based on findings will be a critical aspect of the position.
Job description
You will:
- Contribute to techno-economics analysis
- Contribute to data analysis and visualization to evaluate potential impacts of deploying targeted technologies in key end-use applications and sectors
- Collaborate in a multidisciplinary team environment, including backgrounds in statistics, physics, energy technologies, and machine learning
- Analyze and summarize data and present findings at internal lab meetings and scientific conferences
- Publish in peer-reviewed journals, contribute to scientific research papers reports, and public-facing websites and tools
- Ensure that results are translated to industry impact
- Contribute to quarterly reports and briefings to funding agencies
Additional Responsibilities as needed:
- Participate in routine Systems and Energy Technology Analysis department meetings
- Assist with mentoring of interns
- Contribute to research proposals and grants as needed
We are looking for:
- Ph.D. in Chemical, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering, or related field
- Strong programming experience and familiarity with software versioning systems for data analysis, visualization, and management
- Knowledge of critical mineral or critical gas separations and purification
- Knowledge of ASPEN modeling and physics based cost assessments
- Knowledge of ammonia production, is a plus
- Knowledge of energy technologies (i.e., hydrogen, thermal energy), is a plus
- Proven ability to publish results in relevant journals or reports
- Ability to work in an integrated diverse team environment
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Interest in solving science challenges, particularly in energy
Desired skills/knowledge:
- Experience working on energy system integration
- Keen interest in multi-disciplinary research to influence technology development
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Chemical, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering, or related field
- Strong programming experience and familiarity with software versioning systems for data analysis, visualization, and management
- Knowledge of critical mineral or critical gas separations and purification
- Knowledge of ASPEN modeling and physics based cost assessments
- Proven ability to publish results in relevant journals or reports
- Ability to work in an integrated diverse team environment
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Interest in solving science challenges, particularly in energy
- Less than 3 years of paid postdoctoral experience
Benefits
- Comprehensive health benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Retirement savings
- 24 days PTO
- Sick leave
- Paid holidays
- Postdoctoral Paid Family Leave
- Professional development
Company overview
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is a premier federally funded research and development center established in 1931 and managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy. With a distinguished history spanning over 90 years, Berkeley Lab has been awarded 17 Nobel Prizes and operates as a multidisciplinary research institution focused on discovery science and energy solutions. The laboratory's expertise encompasses six major research areas: Computing Sciences, Physical Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Biosciences, Energy Sciences, and Energy Technologies. Berkeley Lab operates five national scientific user facilities including the Advanced Light Source, Joint Genome Institute, Molecular Foundry, National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), and Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), serving over 14,000 researchers annually. The institution is renowned for its team science approach, pioneering research in particle physics, materials science, genomics, and climate science, while maintaining a strong commitment to addressing global energy challenges and advancing fundamental scientific knowledge.