Research Scientist (Image Analyst) at Leidos

Description

The Leidos Research Support Team supporting the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking a Research Scientist (Image Analyst) with experience in image analysis to join our team in Morgantown, WV. This is an opportunity to execute fundamental and applied research with world-class scientists and engineers using state of the art equipment to perform research aligned with the goals of the U.S. Department of Energy, including carbon management and resource identification.

The successful candidate will be part of an interdisciplinary team conducting geological core and material characterization efforts. They will perform various analyses and research tasks using data collected from multiple computed tomography (CT) scanners at NETL’s Geomaterials and Characterization lab. This includes the post-data collection image processing, data synthesis, and compilation into Technical Report Series (TRS) and peer-reviewed publications relevant to energy production and geologic carbon storage. Working simultaneously on multiple research projects is typical, with both short- and long-term deliverables expected. This position will require various research-related skills including hands-on experimental work, image data analysis, data interpretation and visualization, technical writing and presentation skills, teamwork, and resourcefulness.

What this opportunity with Leidos supporting NETL uniquely provides you: 

• Working on applied, cutting-edge projects with global impact while being mentored by the nation’s leading energy scientists and engineers.   
• Real-world experience supplemented with technical development and discussions that provide unique insight into the broad range of mission critical engineering and scientific disciplines NETL leverages to support national energy research and policy development.  
• Access to world-class, customized facilities and computational assets specific to high impact energy research, technology generation, and product development.  
• Support proposal development focused on expanding industry and scientific partnerships and developing new technical opportunities for NETL with federal guidance.  

 Primary Responsibilities:

• Design, create, and implement workflows to analyze and interpret spatial 2D and 3D CT image analyses utilizing post-processing imaging software or code packages (e.g., FIJI, GIMP, Python, etc.)
• Support experimental designs of porous media flow tests and CT scanning workflows.
• Develop and improve workflows to automate image and data analyses using Python.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team, including geologists, chemists, engineers, and other researchers to assist each other in accomplishing project related tasks.
• Operate independently in the laboratory work environment.
• Possess strong time management and organizational skills with the ability to meet deadlines and deliverables for several simultaneous ongoing projects.
• Assist in writing methods, results, and data interpretations and visualizations for publications in technical reports and high quality, scientific peer-reviewed journals.
• Develop and present results for oral or poster presentation at staff meetings and professional conferences.
• Additionally, the individual in this role will train staff in the use of image processing and data analysis tools developed.
• Provide weekly and monthly technical updates to research team members and project management.

Required Education, Experience & Other:

• Bachelor’s degree in Geology, Reservoir Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biology, Materials Science, Computer Science, Environmental Science, or related field with 2+ years experience. Masters degree preferred.
• Advanced Python experience (i.e. able to write new scripts and improve existing scripts).
• Demonstrable experimental experience related to core or material characterization, transport in porous media, and/or computed tomography scanning.
• Strong understanding of image processing, as well as analytic and machine learning approaches to spatial data or image analysis.
• Knowledge in mineralogy, petrology, and fluid flow properties of porous media.
• Experience in data analysis, report development, scientific writing, and presentation of results.
• Ability to quickly learn new image processing software packages dedicated to processing different optical imaging readouts.
• Experience working in a research facility (e.g. national, industrial, or academic lab) in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of researchers.
• Leadership skills coordinating a team and/or projects.
• Must be able to meet the requirements for gaining access to work on the NETL campus.
• U.S. Citizen.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced image processing experience.
• Experience with CT scanners and other advanced imaging modalities.
• Experience designing and implementing geologically-relevant flow experiments.
• Experience with Labview data collection and interpretation.
• Laboratory leadership and/or management experience.
• Experience publishing peer-reviewed manuscripts.

Salary Range for this position: $75K to $90K

Original Posting Date:

While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.