Job Information
Los Alamos National Laboratory Computational Physics Credibility Graduate Student in Los Alamos, New Mexico
Job TitleComputational Physics Credibility Graduate StudentLocationLos Alamos, NM, USOrganization NameXCP-8/Verification And AnalysisMinimum SalaryMaximum Salary
What You Will Do
Are you ready to begin a career in verification, validation, uncertainty quantification (VVUQ) and machine learning? If so, we encourage you to learn more about our student openings in the Computational Physics: Verification & Analysis group (XCP-8) at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). We are looking for several highly motivated undergraduate and graduate-level candidates in the areas of verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification (VVUQ) and machine learning (ML) for computational physics. As a valued member of our team, your work will contribute to the laboratory's mission to solve national security challenges. You will be involved in multiphysics computational modeling and verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification of computational physics models. We are interested in both undergraduate and graduate student levels and have both summer and year-long positions available.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Computational physics
You will need experience one or more of the following areas: numerical modeling, development of physics-based models, or understanding of relevant physics and mathematics. Of particular interest is experience with equations of state for solids and gasses, material strength and damage models, turbulence models, and high explosive physics.
Research Expertise
You will need to have conducted research in one or more of the following data science and/or computational physics areas: fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, materials, equation of state, high explosives, high-energy-density physics, radiation transport, validation, uncertainty quantification, optimization, machine learning, or a closely related focus area.
Programming
For this role you will need programming skills in at least one of the following: Fortran, C++ and/or Python. Alternately experience programming in Matlab or R may be substituted.
Teamwork and Communication
You will need a to show that you are a team player and can work in scientific team environments. You should also be able to ably communicate scientific research to peers. Examples include conference presentations, research in team environments, and/or journals publications.
Education/Experience: Enrollment in an advanced degree program in mathematics, physics, computer science, engineering, statistics, machine learning, or a closely related discipline.
Desired Qualifications:
• Software development in Fortran and Python
• Experience in hydrocode modeling
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Enthusiasm for learning
• Record of published research/technical reports
Work Environment:
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year
Note to Applicants:
To be considered for the position, applicants should submit a CV/resume and a detailed cover letter addressing how their experience relates to each of the required and desired skills as applicable. We are interested in both undergraduate and graduate student levels and have both summer and year-long positions available. Summer student positions are also available for 11 weeks but the exact duration is flexible to accommodate academic schedules. For specific inquiries regarding the position, please contact Dr. Brandon M. Wilson (bwilson@lanl.gov).
Where You Will Work
XCP-8 is an interdisciplinary group which specializes in VVUQ of complex numerical codes coupled by diverse physics models (fluid dynamics, hydrodynamics, solid mechanics, material strength and damage, equation of state, reactive flow, high-energy-density physics, instabilities and turbulence, and radiation transport). Research in XCP-8 is cross-cutting and interacts closely with code and physics model developers, experimentalists, and simulation end-users across a broad set of physics. XCP-8 offers an exciting, flexible, scientifically challenging work environment with many opportunities to collaborate with the broader LANL scientific community.
Learn more about XCP-8 at https://www.lanl.gov/org/padwp/adx/computational-physics/xcp-8-verification-analysis/index.php
Additional Details
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating the employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2 (https://directives.nnsa.doe.gov/supplemental-directive/sd-0206-0002) . Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 (https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0472.2-BOrder-chg1-pgchg) for additional information.
426.2: This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2, Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities, which establishes entry-level requirements to ensure candidates selected for specific positions can successfully perform the requirements of the job.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 (https://int.lanl.gov/policy/documents/P701.pdf) for applicant eligibility requirements.
Incentive Compensation Program: Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or preference, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1.
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