Postdoctoral Research Associate - Computational Science for Large-Scale Simulations

Requisition Id 16167 

 

Overview:

The Multiphysics Modeling and Flows (MMF) Group in the Computational Sciences and Engineering Division is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate with expertise in computational mesh generation. In this role, you will apply your software engineering skills to develop and validate computational results that support large-scale, physics-based simulations across a variety of applications. 

 

Our Group:

MMF is a computational multiphysics modeling group at the forefront of deploying novel computational engineering techniques for problems that are critical to U.S. national and energy security. We utilize our expertise in numerical discretization techniques, high performance computing, mesh generation, and geometry representation for a wide variety of physics applications. Our intention is to integrate computational modeling with experimental methods and provide innovative solutions for technology growth. We aspire to help generate technical artifacts (patents) as well as scientific artifacts (journal articles).

 

Almost all of our simulation codes require a mesh to discretize the spatial domain of interest. For some applications, generating this mesh has historically been a labor-intensive process because it is shown to be a leading driver of computational accuracy. As a result, for certain use cases of interest to ORNL, we are in need of an applications engineer capable of generating meshes and accurate solutions to complex problems.

 

What does our ideal teammate look like and what will you be doing?

In this role, you will be responsible for working with subject matter experts to understand and refine new CFD application and/or CFD discretization techniques and then lead the implementation of these techniques into large-scale, automatic computational work-flows with particular attention paid to computational accuracy. It is expected that there will be an initial focus on unstructured CFD discretization and conformal mesh generation techniques for applications requiring boundary-layer (i.e., large aspect ratio) meshing capabilities. Additional application methods of interest include adaptive meshing for design/shape optimization as well as solution optimization.

 

In addition to software development/application, you will also engage with the broader community of industry, national labs, and academic partners to understand and advance the state-of-the-art in CFD applications and work-flows.

 

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD in mathematics, computer science, engineering, or related field earned within the last 5 years.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with mesh generation/CFD applications for unstructured meshes and/or finite element methods.
• Experience with CFD discretization techniques for unstructured meshes and/or finite elements with an emphasis on highly scalable algorithms for exascale HPC environments.
• Experience with parallel computing environments, HPC in a Linux environment.
• Experience with surrogate modeling.
• Experience with data analytics techniques.
• Familiarity with C++ and GPU programming.
• Familiarity with Python programming.
• Experience with modern software development practices to ensure code quality.
• Experience with computational geometry.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work with a measure of autonomy and a willingness to participate creatively in a collaborative team environment.

 

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.

 

Letters of Recommendation: References are required.

 

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

 

Special Requirements:

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Q clearance from the Department of Energy. As such,