Data Scientist for Nuclear Power Applications Postdoctoral Researcher

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is seeking a well-qualified Postdoctoral Research Associate in Data Science for the Department of Plant Optimization. The ideal candidate should possess a robust technical background and practical experience with large language models (LLMs).

The Postdoctoral Researcher will have the following key responsibilities:

• Develop, fine-tune, and optimize LLMs.
• Design and implement efficient retrieval-augmented generation systems.
• Create advanced prompt engineering strategies to enhance model performance and utility.
• Demonstrate expertise in embedding techniques, with a clear understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and applicability to various use cases.
• Perform comprehensive data preprocessing, including cleaning, normalization, and integration of diverse data types such as text, images, and tabular data.
• Analyze and structure complex datasets, including unstructured data types such as images and tables.
• Apply advanced AI model optimization techniques to improve the efficiency and performance of large and frontier models for specific applications.
• Understand the principles and trade-offs associated with large-scale machine learning systems.
• Develop agentic AI systems including multi-modal models.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with management, co-workers, and customers.
• Publish research results in a mix of journal publications and conference proceedings.
• Write or contribute to the writing of technical reports.
• Prepare competitive proposals for the DOE or internal INL funding opportunities.

• Give technical presentations to internal and external audiences.

Our team works a 9x80 schedule located out of our Research and Education Campus in Idaho Falls, ID, with every other Friday off.

You are expected to be a strong asset to our interdisciplinary R&D team and work effectively both alone and as a team member. You must be self-motivated but also take directions from other team members and peers

Required:

• PhD in Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence or comparable disciplines.

• PhD requirements must be completed by commencement of appointment and within the previous 5 years.

• Experience in data science, data analysis, and software development using Python, C#, Java or C++.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication in English.
• This position is subject to export control restrictions per the Department of Energy. For this reason, you must be either a US Citizen or a US Green Card holder to qualify for the job.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Experience in distributed processing frameworks and high-performance computing resources to build and deploy scalable AI solutions.
• Experience in model optimization and deployment on NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, ensuring efficient utilization of computational resources.
• Experience in computer vision or time-series data analytics, including practical applications in real-world scenarios.
• Experience with vision language models and large behavioral models.
• Knowledge of data architecture, data structuring, and best practices for managing large-scale data pipelines.
• Familiarity with nuclear engineering concepts, including nuclear reactors and associated data, is a significant advantage.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
  

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to keyboard or type, handle materials, manipulate tools, and reach with hands and arms. The job requires operation of job-related equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Information:

• The pay for this position is $105,144 Annually. At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.