R&D Associate - Building Envelope Materials Research

Requisition Id16580

Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated R&D Associate Staff Member to drive innovation in high-performance polymeric thermal insulation and other building envelope materials. The successful candidate will focus on developing and characterizing novel materials and formulations for low-cost, high-thermal-resistance insulation systems, sealants, and other products relevant to both new construction and retrofit applications in building envelopes.

This position resides in the Building Envelope Materials Research (BEMR) Group within the Buildings and Transportation Science Division, Energy Science and Technology Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This role offers the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of materials science and building science, leveraging ORNL's world-class capabilities in material formulation, synthesis, fabrication, advanced characterization, and industry collaboration.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct research on advanced polymeric thermal insulation and building envelope materials to improve performance, reduce cost, and enhance the energy efficiency, cost, and resilience of new and existing buildings.
• Design and develop scalable, cost-effective, high-performance materials and assemblies for building envelope applications.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across ORNL, including experts in chemistry, materials processing, modeling and simulation, robotics, diagnostics, and computer science.
• Partner with researchers from universities, national laboratories, and industry to advance research and technology deployment.
• Communicate research findings through technical presentations, conference proceedings, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Contribute to the development of research concepts, proposals, and funding opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and program requirements.
• Support ORNL's mission by upholding its core values of impact, integrity, teamwork, safety, service, and respect.

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science and Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in polymer science and engineering, including polymer synthesis, processing, characterization, and performance evaluation.
• Working knowledge of building envelope materials and their applications in energy-efficient and resilient buildings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated record of high-quality publications and technical presentations.
• Experience developing and contributing to competitive research funding proposals.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently while contributing effectively to multidisciplinary research teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced research environment, manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to evolving program needs.
• Experience in the development and characterization of thermal insulation materials, sealants, adhesives, flame retardants, or related polymer-based materials.

Special Requirements:

• Visa sponsorship is available for this position (if applicable)
• Relocation Assistance is available for this position (if applicable)

Though it is not mandatory, you may submit up to three letters of reference when applying for this position. You may upload these directly to your application or have them sent to ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov with 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

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.

About ORNL:

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.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added 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.

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.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

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.