The DTRA Postdoctoral Scholars Program is hosted by the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute (HEMI) at the Johns Hopkins University. This program supports the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in their Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) mission by recruiting, hiring, and placing postdoctoral scholars in the areas of DTRA’s nuclear technologies division: survivability, integration, detection, weapons effects, and assessment.
Current openings
DESCRIPTION
DTRA is currently seeking US Citizen candidates for a postdoctoral scholar position. The job location is in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area.
The Scholars Program was designed to utilize mission-critical expertise possessed by highly qualified subject matter experts in DTRA’s mission to combat and respond to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation and use. The position will support research activities to improve methods for understanding the mathematical modeling of effects on critical infrastructure networks.
Candidates should have a Ph.D. or equivalent in mathematics, physics, or mathematical physics. Preferred skills may include PDEs/ODEs, numerical analysis, computational physics, FEM, FDM, CFD, Monte Carlo, pure mathematics, and/or mathematical physics.
Proficiency in the following areas are of interest: PDE/ODE theory and/or mathematical physics. Candidates should be flexible and willing to learn/review new concepts beyond their specialty.
This is not primarily a bench research position within a lab, but is mostly focused on support of applied research and program/project creation and management/assessment. The following are emphasized: (1) depth of analytic thinking to identify critical research needs and opportunities; and, (2) follow-up assessment of investments in applied research efforts to foster success of the portfolio. The successful candidate will help implement new ideas into development of research tools, review proposals and scientific progress, and support funding oversight. Program success is achieved by increasing innovative knowledge needed for understanding nuclear weapon effects on infrastructure, followed by fostering transition of basic research to applied research and development.
The successful applicant must be a US citizen capable of obtaining a security clearance, and be willing to re-locate to the Washington DC metropolitan area. The appointment will be for a one-year period with a possibility of renewal. To apply, please submit a cover letter and CV or resume. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Nuclear Threat Detection Data Science Post-Doctoral Fellow will support fundamental research and development at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Nuclear Technologies Department (NT) within the DTRA Research and Development Directorate (RD). The Post-Doctoral Fellow will work along with the Division Chief and research managers in the Nuclear Detection Division (RD-NTD) and will be assigned a science Mentor within RD-NTD. The work conducted will help advance basic and applied detector system knowledge of potential threats posed by adversarial use of nuclear weapons or radiological devices. Postdoc work will involve using advanced techniques of data science to search, measure, and characterize radiation and supporting signatures of threats and design better sensor-based methods enabling operational capability to prevent, reduce and counter WMD threats.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work with DTRA/RD-NTD management and leadership.
- Investigate scientific or technological areas of interest under guidance of a Mentor.
- This is not a bench research position as activities are focused on support of program management.
- Develop data science methods to handle sensor and detection problems.
- Learn management processes and help the managers of research investments.
- Assist in the development of research portfolios along operationally useful strategies.
- Assist in evaluation of proposals, research findings, and research topic development.
- Be flexible at learning and reviewing concepts beyond a narrow specialty.
- Other duties and responsibilities may arise as the candidate’s experience matures.
EXPERIENCE DESIRED
• Knowledge in areas of data science: artificial intelligence & machine learning, data integration, modeling and simulation, strategies to analyze large data sets, and other related areas
• Strong mathematical coursework
• Willingness to apply knowledge to other disciplines; e.g., nuclear science
• Basic knowledge of nuclear science
• Evidence of depth of analytical thinking
• Strong written and verbal communications
EDUCATION REQUIRED
Candidates must have a STEM Ph.D or equivalent in applied mathematics, computer science, information science, mathematics, nuclear science, statistics, or a related area.
(students who will have degree conferred within six months are encouraged to apply).
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
• Candidate must be a US citizen.
• Candidates must be able to obtain a SECRET level security clearance.
• Candidates must pass a drug screen/background check
Location: Fort Belvoir, VA
(applicants must be willing to relocate to greater Washington, DC area).
Position Summary
The Modeling and Simulation Integration Post-Doctoral Fellow will support research and development at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Nuclear Technologies Department (NT) within the Research and Development Directorate (RD). The Modeling and Simulation Integration Post-Doctoral Fellow will primarily report to the division chief for nuclear assessments (RD-NTA). This position will help RD-NTA develop the capability to test concepts, capabilities, and plans through rigorous assessment and wargaming to support nuclear requirements definition, operational planning and training. Primary work location will be DTRA located at Fort Belvoir, VA.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Improve the understanding of science with the objective of integrating nuclear effects modeling and simulation systems into wargames and wargaming technologies by:
- Assisting in the development of research topics and strategies
- Assisting in evaluation of proposals
- Assisting in the management of grants and contracts
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Previous Experience Could Include
- Wargaming
- Software engineering
- Nuclear engineering
- Modeling and simulation
- Statistics
- Mathematics
- Computer science, user interfaces, visualization, or related curricula.
- Modeling and simulation software
- Software architecture
- High-level architecture (HLA) integration
- High-performance computing
- Machine Learning
- Neural networks
- Multi-modal data fusion
- Participated in Department of Defense wargame exercises
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Education Required
- PhD.
Scholars will:
• Learn first-hand from operators in the field about state-of-the-art technology,
• Translate complex national security needs into basic research and development requirements,
• Provide technical programmatic oversight, and
• Actualize innovative ideas and solutions in CWMD mission space.
A unique postdoctoral experience
DTRA Postdoctoral Scholars serve a term of 1-3 years. During this time, they work directly with DTRA research and development program managers to support the CWMD mission. Divisions include nuclear technologies, CWMD technologies, data integration and analysis, chemical-biological sciences, and test science.
Preparing postdocs for the future
The goal of this postdoctoral program is to develop highly technical candidates into experts at providing technical, program management, and/or acquisition support to the government. A day in the life of a scholar includes reviewing white papers and proposals, attending conferences, supporting technical reviews and workshops, research requirement development, and programmatic support.
Postdoctoral scholars typically do not pursue their own research. Scholars guide and support the technical direction of extensive scientific research and development portfolios.
Eligibility requirements
- Candidates must be a U.S. citizen.
- Candidates must be able to obtain a SECRET level security clearance.
- Candidates must have a doctoral degree
(students who will have degree conferred within six months are encouraged to apply). - Location: Fort Belvoir, VA
(applicants must be willing to relocate to greater Washington, DC area).
Apply today
Interested candidates should click here to apply.
Available disciplines
A successful candidate in the DTRA Postdoctoral Scholars Program will have a physical science or engineering doctoral degree. Available disciplines may include Nuclear Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics (Laser, Nuclear, Shock, Condensed Matter, Plasma, Atomic, Molecular, and Optical), Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Modeling and Simulation, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, and Radiation Detection, though other disciplines may be considered.
DTRA’s Nuclear Technologies Department
DTRA’s Nuclear Technologies research program traces back to the Manhattan Project. Postdocs will support the department’s mission to research, develop, and transition nuclear weapons effects, survivability, detection, and monitoring capabilities to support and enable an effective nuclear deterrent.
Positions are available in the following NT department divisions:
- Detection Technologies – Equip the joint force to detect, monitor, characterize, provide attribution, and operate effectively on the nuclear battlefield and defeat nuclear threat networks
- Nuclear Weapons Effects – Deliver nuclear weapons effects applications that enable effective targeting of U.S. nuclear weapons and inform protection and response against adversary nuclear attacks
- Nuclear Survivability – Provide the technologies, standards, historical data, and testing capabilities to ensure that U.S. nuclear and conventional forces can survive and fight through adversary nuclear attacks
- Nuclear Assessments – Develop the capability to test concepts, capabilities, and plans through rigorous assessment and wargaming to support nuclear requirements definition, operational planning and training. Manages the operation, sustainment, and improvements to the U.S. portion of the International Monitoring System
- Nuclear Technologies Integration – Deliver integrated, cloud-ready, cross-cutting platform, applications, and data analysis AI-enhanced capabilities to support the full spectrum of nuclear operations, wargaming, and assessments
