Seismology Staff Researcher

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Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are looking for individuals that demonstrate an understanding of working in partnership with team peers, who engage, advocate, and contribute to building an inclusive culture, and provide expertise to solve challenging problems.

We have an opening for a Seismology Staff Researcher to support Seismology Group to perform advanced and independent work to support geophysical programs at LLNL. You will apply your expertise to ongoing geologic carbon storage, geothermal energy, waste fluid disposal, and/or unconventional oil and gas projects. You may also apply your expertise to explosion monitoring problems, including the detection, location, and characterization of signals of interest. The position requires a background in seismology, machine learning, and computer programming. This position is in the Atmospheric, Earth, and Energy Division within the Physical & Life Sciences Directorate.

In this role you will

• Conduct original research in and development of one or more of the following areas: machine learning and/or data analytics to induced seismicity and reservoir geomechanics problems.
• Conduct original and independent research in seismology and/or geophysics.
• Organize and analyze large data sets from numerical simulations and/or ongoing field operations.
• Design, implement, and analyze machine learning techniques to extract useful knowledge for programmatic applications in the energy and explosion monitoring sector.
• Publish both programmatic reports and peer-reviewed publications summarizing research findings and present results at program meetings and research conferences.
• Contribute to and actively participate in the conception, design, and execution of research to address defined problems.
• Pursue independent (but complementary) research interests and interact with a broad spectrum of scientists internally and externally to the Laboratory.
• Collaborate with others in a multidisciplinary team environment to accomplish research goals and provide solutions to complex problems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• PhD in geophysics, data science related to geophysics, or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Significant experience with artificial intelligence, data intensive computing and/or machine learning techniques to seismology and/or geophysical problems in order to improve the understanding of the physics underlying problems of interest, as well as the ability to characterize uncertainties in results.
• Advanced knowledge within the seismological and geophysical community, including the detection, location, and characterization of seismic events.
• Ability to formulate novel solutions to seismological and/or geophysical problems.
• Advanced written, verbal and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively in a team environment, present and explain technical information, and publish original scientific research.
• Experience developing software with C++, C, python, Java, R, Matlab or similar programming language, software applications in Linux, UNIX, Windows environments, data analysis algorithms, data management approaches, and/or machine learning algorithms.
• Record of single-authored or first-authored publications and funded proposals.
• Initiative and interpersonal skills and ability to work in a collaborative multidisciplinary team environment.

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with seismic monitoring applications, operations, forward and inverse modeling of subsurface problems, wave propagation modeling, and numerical methods including finite difference, finite volume, and/or finite element techniques.
• Understanding of the geomechanical behavior of subsurface faults and reservoirs, analyzing microseismic data and other field datasets, modeling subsurface fluid flow, and/or the underlying physical processes leading to induced seismicity.
• Experience with earthquake physics and nucleation, statistical seismology, operational earthquake forecasting, probabilistic risk assessment methods, and/or uncertainty quantification techniques.

Additional Information

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2020 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Work for a premier innovative national Laboratory
• Comprehensive Benefits Package
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Collaborative, creative, inclusive, and fun team environment

Learn more about our company, selection process, position types and security clearances by visiting our Career site.

Security Clearance

LLNL is a Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Laboratory. Most positions will require a DOE L or Q clearance (please reference Security Clearance requirement). If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. In addition, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. An L or Q clearance requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold multiple citizenships (U.S. and another country), you may be required to renounce your non-U.S. citizenship before a DOE L or Q clearance will be processed/granted. For additional information please see DOE Order 472.2.

Equal Employment Opportunity

LLNL is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer that values and hires a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request via our online form.

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