Postdoctoral Research Associate in Experiment Automation

Requisition Id 14624 

Overview:   

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on groundbreaking research focused on techniques for on-the-fly analysis of neutron diffraction data. 

 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the largest US Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security.  The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and the High-Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) are world-leading facilities and the scientific center of a diverse, international and inclusive neutron scattering community. As a Postdoctoral Research Associate your work will directly benefit from these facilities. 

 

In this position, you will be part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-institution team developing integrated systems to automate the acquisition and interpretation of neutron scattering data. You will contribute to the development of FPGA tools for real-time processing of live neutron diffraction data as it is streamed from SNS and HFIR instruments. You will also work in collaboration with other project members to integrates AI models into Bluesky-based instrument control. Your work will require close collaboration with members of the Neutron Technologies Division, the Neutron Scattering Division and the Computer Science and Mathematics Division, as well as project members from other DOE national laboratories. 

 

Major Duties/Responsibilities:   

• Assist in development of high-level framework which uses FPGAs for real-time processing of neutron data for experimental steering. 

• Work with the project team on the development of an instrument automation approach based on the Bluesky framework. 

• Work with the project team to complete neutron experiments to demonstrate innovative approaches. 

• Participate in an inclusive work environment for a diverse community of users, staff, postdocs, and students. 

• Report and publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals. 

• Present results at international scientific conferences and meetings. 

• As a member of the ORNL scientific community, you will be expected to commit to ORNL's Research Code of Conduct. Our full code of conduct and a statement by the Lab Director's office can be found here: https://www.ornl.gov/content/research-integrity. 

• 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 electrical or computer engineering, computer science, physics, chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or a related field. 

• Demonstrated ability to communicate research results in peer-reviewed publications and in presentations. 

 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience designing and implementing custom hardware acceleration solutions on FPGAs for the purpose of high-performance computing, real-time data analysis, or AI inference combined with traditional FPGA development workflows. 

• Familiarity with AMD Versal SoC architecture and the Vivado/Vitis tool chains. 

• Basic understanding of x-ray or neutron scattering is desirable but not essential. 

• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory. 

• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team environmen