Postdoctoral Research Associate - High Energy Physics Simulation

Requisition Id 13697 

Overview:

The Scalable Engineering Applications (SEA) Group in the Computational Sciences and Engineering Division (CSED) is seeking a Post-Doctoral Associate who will specialize in applying the latest advancements in high performance computing and numerical methods to develop computational tools and models that are used for large-scale, physics-based simulations of High Energy Physics (HEP) detectors and related hardware. In this role, you will work with groups across the lab to develop computational algorithms and software for supercomputing simulations using the ORNL-led simulation code Celeritas. Celeritas, a Monte Carlo code for HEP detector simulation using GPUs, is a key product of the SEA group developed in conjunction with other national laboratories and institutes around the world. Designed to accelerate the most computationally intense problems in high energy physics, starting with electromagnetic (EM) physics for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), Celeritas is being extended to enable GPU utilization for additional experiments, including optical physics for scintillation experiments, neutrino detection, and beyond. We seek highly motivated candidates to join our team to help enable particle simulation on GPUs and massively parallel high-performance computing (HPC) systems by developing new algorithms, implementing physics models, profiling performance, and integrating with experiment frameworks.

 

The Scalable Engineering Applications group is comprised of computational scientists with a diverse spectrum of technical backgrounds, ranging from applied mathematics to engineering. Our group mission is to use innovative computational science to deliver scalable modeling and simulation tools for engineering and science applications, including HEP. We develop and apply new scalable algorithms for advanced computing architectures and use the latest advancements in numerical methods and performance portability for high performance computing. This includes designing and crafting novel software packages at the confluence of modern engineering and computational science which are then deployed as production capabilities to a network of subject matter expert collaborators throughout the world.

 

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

 

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Participate in new and ongoing research in computational science for high energy physics.
• Build new advancements in the scientific application of Monte Carlo methods for particle physics.
• Develop scientific software, adhering to research software engineering best practices.
• Assist in formulating research plans and execute the research and development necessary for the practical implementation of plans.
• Take part in multiple R&D projects.
• Interpret, report, and present research concepts and results to national and international audiences at all levels.
• Work independently and in teams to develop conduct research and produce working prototypes for demonstration.
• Write peer-reviewed papers and technical reports for internal and external release and represent the organization by giving technical presentations in large public forums.
• Lead and maintain a strong publication record.