Power System Protection Researcher

The Power Systems Resilience Group (PSR) within the Electrification and Energy Infrastructures Division (EEID)at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking to fill a Senior R&D Staff position to work in the area of power system protection research and development. Selection will be based on qualifications, relevant experience, skills, and education.

PSR Group R&D supports DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE), Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response (CESER) and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) initiatives on: electric grid resilience and reliability; grid modeling and analysis; integration of new technologies; and identifying and validating new ways of using existing grid assets to ensure grid reliability, grid resilience, environmental stewardship, and affordability of energy supplies. PSR conducts modeling, analysis and R&D specifically related to the grid and applies PSR’s expertise to other technologies and generation assets, such as hydropower, to develop and evaluate options and methodologies for operations, dispatch, and planning.

The successful Senior R&D candidate will be responsible for conducting research and managing research projects supporting PSR Group activities focused on transmission, substation and distribution system protective relaying and protection engineering. The selected candidate will lead the expansion of R&D in the PSR Group to take advantage of our multidisciplinary capabilities, multimodal strengths, and unique tools and capabilities. The candidate should be a proven thought leader in developing new power system protection methods for existing and future power delivery systems incorporating large amounts of renewable generation. The candidate is expected to work in support of other ORNL staff and to offer career guidance and mentoring to junior staff. They will be expected to network and develop collaborative R&D with other groups and divisions internally at ORNL as well as with the DOE and industry. There will be frequent interactions with DOE sponsors in pursuit of new research funding.