Posting Title
Postdoctoral Researcher - Agent-Based Modeling of Renewable Energy
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Location
CO - Golden
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Position Type
Postdoc (Fixed Term)
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Hours Per Week
40
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Working at NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.
NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.
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We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.
Job Description
NREL is seeking a post-doc to support its modeling work for the NSF convergence Securing critical material supply chains by enabling phOtovoltaic circuLARity (SOLAR) phase II program, which aims at creating and accelerating a collaborative ecosystem to enable full circularity of photovoltaics (PV) materials. For this program, involving Battelle, Texas A&M University (TAMU), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and NREL, the latter has been tasked with determining optimal options for PV circularity using the Circular Economy Agent-Based Model (CE ABM). The post-doc will primarily participate in the development of the CE ABM. Support with data collection, sensitivity analysis, and visualization of simulation results is also to be expected. The post-doc will work under the direct guidance of several NREL staff and should be a self-motivated researcher and analyst with strong coding skills who is highly productive and excels in their area of study.
With guidance from management and senior staff, the post-doc will assist in developing the CE ABM. First, the computational efficiency of the CE ABM will be improved based on recent updates from the Python package Mesa and functions developed in the wind industry version of the CE ABM. Second, new agent types (landfills and regulators) will be added (following the wind industry version of the model) and their respective behavioral rules will be defined based on results from other activities of the SOLAR program. Lastly, the CE ABM will be integrated with a reverse supply-chain optimization model developed by TAMU and the integrated model will be developed to account for greenhouse gas emissions and energy burdens related to PV end-of-life management.
Once the planned improvements to the CE ABM are completed and the model has been integrated with TAMU’s optimization framework, the post-doc will help conduct a local and, if relevant, global sensitivity analysis. The goal of the sensitivity analysis will be twofold: i) identify the most sensitive parameters and guide data collection efforts, ii) identify tipping points and optimal options for PV circularity. Visualization of simulation results, scenario analysis, and writing of journal manuscript(s) are also expected during the post-doctoral position. A particularly successful post-doc would also seek ways of further improving the CE ABM or its use through machine learning techniques. The post-doc will be scheduled to start in the summer of 2025.
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Basic Qualifications
Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
Must hold (or be on track to obtain) a Ph.D. in engineering (e.g., environmental, chemical, industrial), operations research, economics, environmental science, or other energy or industrial ecology-related field, with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average required. The post-doc should be currently undertaking Doctoral or post-doctoral work in a related field.
- Demonstrated strong analytical skills and ability to conduct academic research
- Demonstrated experience in Python programming
- Knowledge and experience in agent-based modeling
Note: The position may be remote and conducted virtually, but the post-doc is highly encouraged to work in the NREL office in Golden, CO for the majority of the project.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of PV technologies, energy systems, and the PV supply chain.
- Excellent coding skills in Python are required, and knowledge of other programming languages is a plus.
- Basic knowledge of Git or other version control software is preferred.
- Knowledge of the Python Mesa package is a plus.
- Ability to work independently to meet requirements and produce quality work in a timely fashion.
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Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $73,200 - $120,800
NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
Benefits Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.
* Based on eligibility rules
Badging Requirement
NREL 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 required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.
Drug Free Workplace
NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.
If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.
Submission Guidelines
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.
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EEO Policy
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