UT-ORII Staff Fellow

Requisition Id 14736 

Overview: 

The Workflow Systems Group  in the Computer Science and Mathematics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a staff fellow with expertise in machine learning and high performance computing to help develop high-fidelity computational tools that are used for large-scale, physics-based simulations of fusion energy systems in partnership with the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII).  As part of the UT-ORII Convergent Research Initiative on Accelerating Fusion Technology and as an ORNL UT-ORII staff fellow, successful applicants will be part of a team of Research Faculty and ORNL staff to collaborate in the area of Fusion Materials.

 

In this role, you will work with groups of scientists across ORNL and the University of Tennessee (UT) to develop and apply physics-informed AI surrogate models for scientific simulations to accelerate research in fusion energy systems. This includes developing new machine learning models and software for scale-bridging and physics coupling in multiscale and multiphysics simulation codes for materials science and plasma-material interactions in fusion energy systems. You will also advance knowledge of key AI methods such as deep learning, operator learning, and Bayesian optimization, and apply it to develop next-generation surrogate models. This position will enable you to coordinate and conduct research and experiments related to the performance and reliability of AI surrogate models as well as develop mechanistic understanding and models for relations among simulation parameters, AI models, and predictive performance.

 

As a UT-ORII fellow, your career will develop in collaboration with researchers from both UT and ORNL through this early-career position primarily located at ORNL and with a Joint-Research Faculty (JFO) appointment at UT.  As an integral part of the team, you will engage in a dynamic blend of activities, from advanced AI model developments and AI deployments to accelerate fusion material development to crafting comprehensive reports and impactful proposals. In addition to helping shape research programs, mentorship will be a key aspect of your role, guiding and inspiring graduate and undergraduate students. As a valued, emerging researcher in the ORNL Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate and the UT-OR Innovation Institute, you'll have access to a rich network of resources, including seminars, training opportunities, and collaborations that will propel your career forward.

 

UT-ORII was founded in 2019 by the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to help the US maintain prominence as a global leader in innovation and discovery, and to create a robust talent pipeline in areas of growing national need and demand. UT-ORII is funded by the Department of Energy and the State of Tennessee.

 

More About the Workflow Systems Group:

The Workflow Systems Group researches and develops systems and algorithms to enable knowledge discovery from scientific data through efficient data management, reduction, and analysis. The group's goal is to accelerate scientific knowledge by researching and developing novel techniques capable of solving real-world problems for mission critical applications and exploring novel solutions in the research community. The ability to create next-generation workflows for in situ processing and federated scientific instruments is a central component of this approach.

 

More About UT-ORII:

The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute is a partnership of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and UT created to prepare interdisciplinary leaders in energy, science, and technology and develop a world-class workforce for industry, government, and academia that will drive innovation and create the industries of the future. More information is available at University of Tennessee - Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (utorii.com). Today’s energy economy is driven by disruptive technologies and