Research Associate Physicist

at  Brookhaven National Laboratory

The Nonproliferation and National Security Department (NN) contributes to U.S. nuclear security and safeguards efforts by assisting in the development, analysis and assessment of policies that strengthen international regimes, collecting and analyzing data to identify trends and threats to the U.S. and international communities, developing and implementing new technologies to address existing and emerging threats, and strengthening the domestic and international institutions that form the framework of the nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security regimes through training and engagement. The Radiation Detection and Emerging Safeguards Technologies Group pursues research and development in radiation detection technology and applications in security, safeguards, and healthcare. The Group is heavily involved in engineering design, modeling, testing, and field deployment of radiation detection systems to support sponsors in their operation and research. In addition, the Group also develops novel detection techniques including machine learning and robotics to improve radiation detection and nuclear security and safeguards.
The Radiation Detection and Emerging Safeguards Technologies Group is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the multidisciplinary research in safeguards and security. In this role you will mainly support robotics-related research and development including integration of physical sensors into various robotic platforms and demonstration of the integrated systems in safeguards and security applications. In addition, you will also participate in modeling and simulation work to address problems in safeguards and security. This position has a high level of interaction with an international and multicultural scientific community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct research in hardware and software integration of multi-physics sensors with robotic platforms
• Develop applications of robotic platforms in safeguards and security
• Conduct research in deterministic and stochastic modeling to investigate problems in safeguards and security domains
• Write interim and final project reports and presentations for sponsors
• Publish results of research and development in peer-reviewed, scientific journals

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• A PhD degree in one of the following: physics, nuclear engineering, or relevant fields
• Knowledge of nuclear security and international safeguards
• Hands-on modeling and simulation of physical/operational processes in safeguards and security
• Demonstrated experience in software programming with C/C++ and/or Python on robotic platforms
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Ability to travel as required for project work and laboratory representation
• Clear and concise oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated track record of publication of research in high quality peer-reviewed journals and deliver of presentations

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working experience with Boston Dynamics Spot robot platform
• Familiarity with LaTeX typesetting system
• Programming experience in Linux Operating System

Environmental, Health & Safety Requirements:

• The main scope of work will take place in an office environment as well as in the laboratories. The successful candidate must be able to conduct the activities safely in BNL laboratories by completing required trainings, interpreting laboratory safety information postings, and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Must be able to pass Radworker training requirements and be willing to work in a radiation environment

• Conduct research in hardware and software integration of multi-physics sensors with robotic platforms
• Develop applications of robotic platforms in safeguards and security
• Conduct research in deterministic and stochastic modeling to investigate problems in safeguards and security domains
• Write interim and final project reports and presentations for sponsors
• Publish results of research and development in peer-reviewed, scientific journal