Post-Doctoral Researcher – Ocean Energy Techno-Economic Analysis
Posting Title: Post-Doctoral Researcher – Ocean Energy Techno-Economic Analysis
Location: CO - Boulder
Position Type: Postdoc (Fixed Term)
Hours Per Week: 40
Job Summary
- 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. NREL has a Wind Energy Systems Engineering Initiative within the National Wind Technology Center to enable advanced system modeling of wind turbines and plants.
- This R&D program has an opening for one post-doctoral researcher in Energy Techno-Economics. The post-doctoral research will work on the development and application of models to integrated system modeling of Ocean Energy Systems (e.g. Wave, Tidal, Ocean Current) using multi-disciplinary design, analysis and optimization methods. The work will focus on expanding existing capabilities in energy techno-economics with an emphasis on ocean energy systems for both utility power and non-utility applications (e.g. Desalination, Aquaculture, Mineral Recovery, and Isolated Power Systems).
- The Post-doctoral engineer will develop new models and augment existing models in ocean energy techno-economic analysis as well as for hybrid energy systems. These models, in addition to NREL’s System Advisor Model (SAM) will be used for various system and component level optimization studies. The Post-doctoral engineer will utilize various methods in multi-disciplinary analysis and optimization to perform analyses in ocean energy system design and analysis. Optimization under uncertainty and more general uncertainty analysis methods will also be used in various studies.
Required Education, Experience, and Skills
Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
Preferred Qualifications
The successful candidate is expected to have the education, experience, and skill to meet the following criteria:
- A PhD in engineering, or science, with a strong background in system analysis, design, and fluid mechanics Knowledge of engineering economics and project financial analysis PhD in mechanical engineering, ocean engineering, or an equivalent field within the last three years, Expertise in grid scale power production systems, and off grid energy harvesting applications, Experience with desalination processes (e.g. Reverse Osmosis, Forward Osmosis, Ion Exchange, Thermal Distillation, etc.),
- Experience with power take-off (i.e. generators and motors) system modeling and energy system integration,
- Experience with techno-economic and cost modeling, Established publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
Preferred Qualifications
- Cost analysis and design of renewable energy systems
- Previous experience in onshore and offshore energy systems cost analysis and design
- Previous experience in analysis and design of ocean energy systems (wave, tidal, or current systems)
- Previous experience in wave energy device design and array modeling
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.
EEO Policy
- NREL is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity. NREL promotes a work environment that does not discriminate against workers or job applicants and prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, ancestry, actual or perceived sexual orientation, or veteran status, including special disabled veterans.
- NREL validates right to work using E-Verify. NREL will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.