Research Scientist I/II/Sr/Principal (Open Rank)

About Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is a top-ranked public research university situated in the heart of Atlanta, a diverse and vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. The Institute serves more than 45,000 students through top-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech's faculty attracted more than $1.4 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. Georgia Tech ranks among the nation's top 20 universities for research and development spending and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school. Georgia Tech also ranks first among U.S. public universities for energy and fuels research.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.

2. We strive for excellence.

3. We thrive on diversity.

4. We celebrate collaboration.

5. We champion innovation.

6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.

7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.

8. We act ethically.

9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

About Georgia Tech Interdisciplinary Research Institutes and Strategic Energy Institute

Georgia Tech has eleven IRIs that bring together researchers from different disciplines to address topics of strategic importance to the Institute as well as local, state, national and international communities. Reporting to the Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research (VPIR), these institutes facilitate initiatives that cross disciplinary boundaries. This includes work that tackles national and international challenges and questions related to clean energy, sustainability, public health, biotechnology, neuroscience, the bioeconomy, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and space exploration.

The Strategic Energy Institute (SEI) is one of Georgia Tech's Interdisciplinary Research Institutes, integrating energy activities across the Institute. SEI serves as a hub for more than 1,000 campus researchers working across the entire energy value chain the largest energy research portfolio of any university in the U.S. SEI is deeply engaged in building community, developing resources, and promoting thought leadership to marshal the full resources of Georgia Tech around tackling the tough energy and environmental problems and opportunities our society faces. Whether it is developing new knowledge that will lead to more efficient energy, commercializing a technology to address a specific challenge, or designing a roadmap for policymakers and decisionmakers, we understand the systems, technologies, and context of the ever-evolving energy ecosystem.

Atlanta GA

Serve as Georgia Techs dedicated senior liaison to SRNL; formulate and communicate strategies and programs to advance the goals of GT, Strategic Energy Institute (SEI), and SRNL leadership, through activities such as collaborative research, convening stakeholders, and establishing target areas of strategic alignment. This role will also work to facilitate similar outcomes in advancing research between other universities in the Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA).

Impact and influence:

This position will interact on a regular basis with: SRNL and University executive leadership, national laboratory engagement program members, Campus research leadership (e.g., Associate Deans for Research, School chairs, Interdisciplinary Research Institute executive directors), Corporate Engagement, Government Relations, Commercialization, academic faculty, and industry partners.

Appointment terms:

This is a two-year appointment with the potential of renewal upon mutual agreement, demonstrated performance, and availability of funds.

Renewal will be evaluated based on measurable outcomes towards sustained strategic research engagement between Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Georgia Tech (GT), and other university partners, such as facilitating collaborative projects, proposal development, joint publications, and intellectual property. This role will work directly with the Science, Energy, and Innovation Associate Laboratory Director at SRNL to ensure alignment of goals.

SRNL-University Strategic Engagement:

• Lead efforts to scale the relationship between Georgia Tech and SRNL by serving as the primary GT-based point of contact for SRNL engagement.
• Establish and implement core strategies to advance research priorities between SRNL, Georgia Tech and other BSRA partners.
• Design and execute processes that facilitate connections between SRNL researchers and faculty, centers, and institutes. Accelerate team formation and proposal readiness by managing the engagement strategy.
• Identify opportunities for strategic joint faculty appointments and student engagement with SRNL.
• Advance collaboration across priority areas, such as energy, advanced manufacturing, nuclear materials processing and disposition, environmental remediation, national security, grid resilience, and workforce development.
• Oversee discussions between GT-SRNL leadership and translate priority strategies into actionable collaboration pathways of mutual interests.
• Develop SRNL-university programs specifically designed to advance workforce development in energy.

Proposal and Program Development:

• Facilitate the formation of teams for the development of large, complex, multi-investigator proposals involving SRNL and GT.
• Apply deep understanding of programmatic priorities to align proposal concepts with both SRNL and GT research capabilities.
• Drive communications with federal agencies regarding areas of SRNL-GT collaboration and areas of national priorities.
• Serve as a liaison between SRNL and GTs offices of research development and operations to align proposal development, cost share, partnerships, etc.
• Coordinate SRNL participation in GT-led initiatives and workshops.

Integration within the framework of GT national lab program:

• Operate within the GT national laboratory engagement framework to build programming and identify opportunities for strategic collaborations leading to long-term funding.
• Coordinate closely with university executive leadership to ensure alignment with campus-wide strategy.

Communications and Outreach:

• Contribute to communications outlining notable deliverables to key stakeholders which may including briefings, presentations, and web content, in coordination with the university and national lab communications teams.
• Represent SRNL-GT engagement in internal GT meetings and selected external forums, as appropriate and aligned with GT national lab program leadership.
• Support workforce development and engagement practices, including coordination with regional partners where relevant.

Time commitment and boundaries:

• This role is dedicated to advancing SRNL-GT collaboration and must maintain a clearly defined effort allocation to Georgia Tech activities.
• Activities involving other SRNL partner universities must not conflict with GT interests.
• Participation in multi-institutional proposals must follow Georgia Tech conflict-of-interest (COI) and disclosure policies.
• When serving on proposals involving multiple SRNL partner universities, GT engagement responsibilities will be clearly defined and documented.
• Effort allocation and engagement boundaries will be reviewed annually.

Scope and authority:

• This role does not independently set Georgia Tech national laboratory strategy.
• This role does not supervise other national lab liaisons or programs.
• This role reports to the SEI executive leadership, who oversees strategic priorities, performance evaluation, and expansion of national lab engagement activities.

This position vacancy is an open rank announcement. Final job offer will be dependent on candidate qualifications in alignment with Research Faculty ranks as outlined in section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook (https://www.policylibrary.gatech.edu/faculty-handbook/3.2.1-research-faculty-hiring-and-promotion-guidelines)

Final rank will be determined commensurate with education and experience

Research Scientist I

• Bachelor's Degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, or related area with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.

Research Scientist II

• A Masters degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field,

and three (3) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of that degree, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.

• A Masters degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field,

and five (5) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of a Bachelors degree, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.

• A Doctoral degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.

Senior Research Scientist

• A master's degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, and seven (7) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of that degree, or
• A master's degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, and nine (9) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
• A Doctoral degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, and four (4) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.

Principal Research Scientist

• A Master's degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, and eleven (11) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of that degree, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
• A Doctoral degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, and seven (7) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.

• PhD in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience in a national laboratory or equivalent research organization.
• Experience designing and implementing strategic research efforts between multiple institutions.
• Proven record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder research programs funded by DOE program offices.
• Extensive experience developing and implementing strategies that align with DOE national laboratory operations, funding processes, and federal stakeholder engagement.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across academic, laboratory, federal, and corporate environments.
• 10-15 years of working experience in a national laboratory or comparable federal research environment.
• Expertise leading or contributing to large-scale federally funded or DOE-funded research initiatives.
• Experience managing collaborations and deliverables with large teams (20+)
• Experience facilitating leadership discussions, such as advisory committees, and developing and implementing strategic initiatives
• Experience bridging laboratory capabilities with university research ecosystems.
• Familiarity with advanced manufacturing, nuclear systems, environmental remediation, or integrated energy systems.
• Experience managing large piloting capabilities at the intersections of energy and manufacturing.

For any further information, please contact Asha Menon at amenon300@gatech.edu

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The Institute is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and Institute policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

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This is not a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will not be required to drive.
This role is not considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position will not travel
This position does not require security clearance.

Successful candidate must be able to pass a background check. Please visit http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/employment/pre-employment-screening