Postdoc - Residual Stress Characterization in Advanced Manufacturing by Neutron Diffraction

Requisition Id17401

Overview:

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct residual stress characterization resultant from advanced manufacturing processes by Engineering Diffraction.

This position resides in the Engineering Diffraction Group within the Engineering Diffraction and Imaging Section, Neutron Scattering Division, Neutron Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The selected candidate will work in a highly collaborative environment with teams in the Neutron Sciences Directorate, the Physical Sciences Directorate, and the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. The candidate will use neutron diffraction to characterize residual stress in materials made by additive manufacturing and advanced joining methods.

The research will focus on using neutron diffraction to measure residual strain and stress in additively manufactured and joined alloys. The candidate will relate these measurements to processing conditions, microstructure, and mechanical properties. The results will support the development and validation of process models for advanced manufacturing. The candidate will work with multidisciplinary teams, contribute to collaborative projects, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Plan and conduct residual stress measurements using the HIDRA neutron diffractometer at HFIR.
• Characterize residual stress in additively manufactured components and joined materials made by advanced manufacturing methods.
• Relate residual stress to processing parameters such as build strategy, heat input, and post-process heat treatment.
• Performing microstructure characterization using SEM, EBSD, XRD, and related techniques.
• Apply analytical and modeling approaches to interpret experimental results.
• Collaborate with internal and external research teams to define and advance research directions.
• Work with HIDRA users with mutual interest on experiment planning and data analysis.
• Present research findings and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
• 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:

• A PhD in materials science & engineering, physics, chemistry, or a related field completed within the last 5 years.
• Research experience with advanced manufacturing methods, such as additive manufacturing, welding, or other materials joining processes.
• Proficiency in materials data analytics, including correlation analysis and machine learning techniques.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with microstructure characterization techniques (SEM, EBSD, TEM, XRD).
• Experience measuring residual stress by neutron or synchrotron diffraction, or by complementary methods such as the contour method or hole drilling.
• Background in engineering alloys used in additive manufacturing and joining, such as steels, nickel-based superalloys, titanium alloys, or aluminum alloys.
• Familiarity with diffraction and data analysis tools (e.g., GSAS, GSAS-II, PyRS, VDRIVE, Mantid).
• Hands-on experience with additive manufacturing or welding processes (e.g., laser powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, fusion welding, friction stir welding).
• Knowledge of how residual stress develops during processing, including thermal gradients, phase transformations, and elastic and plastic anisotropy.
• Experience with finite element modeling of residual stress or thermal-mechanical processes.

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.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.

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.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

Letters of Recommendation:

Please submit two 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

Benefits at ORNL:

We offer competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain hardworking people! The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits includethe 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, and Employee Discounts. Relocation Assistance is available for certain positions.

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.