Postdoctoral Research Associate - AI for Science

Requisition Id15584

Overview:

Do you have a passion for applying AI methods for accelerating scientific discoveries and an ability to think outside of the box in a collaborative and open environment? If so, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Learning Systems Group within the Data and Artificial Intelligence Systems section invites you to apply to our new postdoctoral research associate position in AI for science.

As energy consumption is becoming a serious challenge facing large-scale AI data centers, you will work with experts in this area exploring combination of existing techniques such as quantization, model pruning, approximate attention (linear and sparse) and proposing new mechanisms for tackling speed, accuracy, as well as energy issues, for large language mode (LLM) inferencing. Eventually, we aim to map these algorithms on to energy-efficient emerging devices. In addition, you may also explore applying LLMs to drive multimodal models in scientific domains towards deep reasoning.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will help solve some of the most challenging problems faced by the nation. You will perform groundbreaking research on a wide range of significant problems, and you will apply your work to exciting research in multi-disciplinary domains alongside globally recognized experts. You will bring creative thinking, teamwork, and machine learning skills to bear as you develop new methods to address scientific and engineering problems, collaborate with leaders in your field and across the laboratory, while working with the world's fastest computers, and disseminate innovative results through publications and presentations.

The Learning Systems Group at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory focuses on artificial intelligence and computational research and applies this knowledge to support the nation's leading initiatives. We hire top researchers who are ready to tackle the hardest problems faced by both the US and the world. Researchers of the Learning Systems group are changing the world with their research, and we are committed to hiring and retaining highly motivated, energetic, and creative individuals that will help us continue our breakthrough scientific endeavors.

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research in of AI for science, focusing on high-impact scientific problems.
• Investigate energy efficiency as well as accuracy and performance of modern AI and/or incorporate LLMs into a scientific context through multi-modal modeling/LLM RAG/etc.
• Build strong collaborations within ORNL and across the global research community.
• Publish groundbreaking research in top-tier machine learning conferences and journals.
• Be a part of a collaborative research environment which will provide the opportunity to perform cutting-edge research in deep learning and scientific computing.
• 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 Ph.D. in computer science, computational science, data science, artificial intelligence, or related field completed within the last 5 years or to be expected in 2025.
• Demonstrated experience working with machine learning and data analytics using tools in programming languages such as Python, PyTorch, Pandas, Scikit Learn, etc., in applied problem-solving contexts.
• Understanding of machine learning algorithms (gradient descent, random forests, etc.) and deep neural network architectures (Transformers).
• A broad understanding of machine learning methodologies and data science methodologies and techniques, (e.g. supervised and unsupervised learning, feature selection/engineering, hyperparameter optimization, dimensionality reduction, embeddings, etc.).
• Understanding of computational scaling techniques for machine learning and high-performance computing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in foundational models and LLMs, transformers, especially in their novel applications and approaches for accelerations, including quantizations, approximate attentions, and their combinations.
• Building multi-modal models with LLMs and incorporating domain knowledge and reasoning to LLMs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• A strong publication record demonstrating either core machine learning capabilities or novel applications of machine learning.
• Ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines and adapt to changing needs.

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.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You may upload these directly to your application or have them sent to Postdocrecruitment@ornl.govwith 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

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:

• 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.

Benefits at ORNL:

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented 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 include the 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, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email:ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

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.

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.