Argonne National Laboratory Jobs

Argonne National Laboratory is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in the area of model development and life cycle analysis (LCA) and technology assessment to quantify energy and environmental effects of energy systems and/or materials. This is a full-time position with the Systems Assessment Center’s Materials Life Cycle Group in the Energy Systems and Infrastructure Analysis Division. We are seeking applicants with a combination of engineering background and extensive knowledge and experience of Python programming language, including building application programming interfaces (APIs), integrations using modular architecture, and interactions with user interfaces (UI). The Postdoctoral Researcher will have an opportunity to work on research areas including transportation fuels, renewable natural gas production and supply chain, CO2 capture and utilization, sustainable aviation fuels, waste utilization technologies for energy and material production, and/or industry materials and decarbonization technologies.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will work with members of the Materials Life Cycle Group to develop the next generation GREET software, design modeling architecture, and develop source codes for key GREET modeling functionalities, establish data structure for the extensive GREET database, and implement new web-based interfaces and modules. For specific LCA tasks, the Postdoctoral Researcher will collect, synthesize, and process information; develop high-quality databases and derive data-driven results; apply LCA methodologies to address critical analytical issues; provide rigorous and objective results; publish journal articles and reports; and present results at conferences, workshops, and project meetings.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will:

• Work closely with the GREET life cycle analysis research team to understand software requirements for the next generation GREET software.

• Apply Python and preferably JavaScript as the programing languages for backend and frontend development of the GREET software.

• Test and debug all the model functionalities of the newly developed GREET software.

• Work with unstructured databases such as XML/JSON to transfer existing databases to the new GREET software.

• Use version control tools to track and document the development progress.

• Collect and develop data with state-of-the-art data analytic techniques for specific energy systems and/or material technology.

• Conduct rigorous LCA studies in the GREET modeling platform.

• Work with collaborators from other national labs and academia to evaluate complex systems and to incorporate new data in analyses.

The Systems Assessment Center continues a 30-year history of leadership in the field of life cycle assessment. The Postdoctoral Researcher will join project teams including experts in a variety of topics and will regularly collaborate with experts of other Argonne groups as well as in industry and at other national laboratories. The Systems Assessment Center develops and maintains the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) model which is widely used by government, industry, and academic stakeholders to provide objective and rigorous results (see greet.es.anl.gov). The Materials Life Cycle Group supports DOE and other sponsors to assess the energy and environmental impacts associated with energy systems, materials, and integrated systems to help DOE and other stakeholders guide R&D efforts, identify improvement opportunities, and to propose new methodologies to address emerging issues in LCA/sustainability analysis.

Position Requirements

• Ph.D. degree in civil, chemical, mechanical engineering, environmental science/engineering, or related fields.

• Experience in LCA, process modeling, or closely related areas.

• Experience in developing software development using Python.

• Expertise in topics related to process modeling and sustainability analysis of energy systems.

• A successful candidate must have the ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience with a range of programming languages and associated libraries, including: General-purpose programming (C#, Python, and Java) and Version control and automation tools (e.g., Git)

• Demonstrated experience in data driven LCA modeling and sustainability analysis.

• Desire and passion to work as a part of a team in a highly collaborative environment.

• Familiarity with public data sources relevant for environmental and sustainability analysis.

• Passion for data-driven policy decisions for societal sustainability.

• Well-developed problem-solving, systems thinking, quantitative, and critical thinking skills; intellectual curiosity. Able to propose and formulate solutions to complex problems.

• Skilled written and verbal communicator, including the ability to present complex information so that it is understandable to a broad audience.

Interested candidates should provide a curriculum vitae, sample software and/or web applications, and names and contact information for three professional references to the application management system.

Job Family

Postdoctoral Family

Job Profile

Postdoctoral Appointee

Worker Type

Long-Term (Fixed Term)

Time Type

Full time

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