The High Performance Computing and Visualization Group (HPCVG) at NIST has several opportunities for postdoctoral research positions. HPCVG develops novel algorithms and implementations for parallel and distributed computation in a variety of hardware environments. Researchers create innovative techniques for immersive visualization in a variety of local and distributed hardware environments. They also develop and utilize techniques and tools of mathematical analysis, parallel and distributed computing, and visualization to improve measurement science, including the extension of traditional measurement science to the virtual world. Lastly, the group contributes to the development of scientific applications at NIST through multidisciplinary collaborative projects.
Contacts
Judith Terrill judith.terrill@nist.gov
William George william.george@nist.gov
Specific Research Opportunities:
Real-time Quantitative Visualization 50.77.11.B7763
We are working to create visualization systems that serve as precision measurement instruments, supporting interactive probing of “samples” to derive quantitative data to enable scientific discovery. We use virtual samples, built from data obtained from either physical measurement or computational simulation. Our ability to extend measurement science to the virtual world is enabled by advances in the speed and capability of graphics processing units (GPUs). In particular, visualization techniques that employ shaders have the potential to play a central role in measurement and analysis tools within a visualization system because these programs can perform substantial numeric processing within the visualization pipeline, where they have direct access to the geometric data describing the objects of study. Additionally, this allows access to the information needed to determine uncertainties, a prerequisite for precision measurement. This research opportunity focuses on all aspects of quantitative visualization, i.e., measurement and analysis applied to visualization objects directly in real time.
Parallel and Distributed Computing 50.77.11.B6377
As the size and computational power of parallel and distributed computing systems increase, it is important to continually investigate the appropriateness of the algorithms we use for our scientific applications. Although we always strive to design and build scalable parallel applications, we must re-think these deigns when the available computational resources increase in power by even as small as a single order of magnitude with respect to the number of processors, main memory size, network speed, or other relevant parameters. This research opportunity focuses on (1) investigating and developing new parallel algorithms, especially for scientific applications, for the next generation of computing platforms; (2) characterizing the programming models presented by new parallel and distributed computing platforms; (3) investigating the design and performance of parallel programming languages and libraries; and (4) investigating the role of web services, fourth generation languages such as Matlab and Mathematica, computational grids, and other developing technologies in providing novel high-performance computing environments.
Scientific Data mining 50.77.11.B4825
NIST scientists are currently automating experiments resulting in increasing amounts of generated data in multidimensional spaces. The data come primarily from combinatorial experiments in materials science. This type of data consists of image data with additional measurements at each pixel. Other experiments result in spectra-like measurements taken over spatial domains. These datasets require techniques that can sift through large amounts of data for items of potential interest, as well as for discovery. We are collaborating with these scientists on ways to mine this data for scientific insight. Opportunities exist for the application of datamining techniques such as classification, rule finding, and automated model building to these datasets, as well as for the development of new techniques.
]Additional Information
NIST’s Postdoctoral Program supports a nationwide competitive postdoctoral program administered in cooperation with the National Academy of Sciences / National Research Council. The postdoctoral program brings research scientists and engineers of unusual promise and ability to perform advanced research related to the NIST mission, introduces the latest university research results and techniques to NIST scientific programs, strengthens mutual communication with university researchers, shares NIST unique research facilities with the U.S. scientific and engineering communities, and provides a valuable mechanism for the transfer of research results from NIST to the scientific and engineering communities.
Quick Facts
The program provides for Federal excepted service appointments for outstanding scientists and engineers, of a maximum of 2 year duration.
Awardees must hold U.S. citizenship, and have held the Ph.D. less than five years at time of application.
Awardees are chosen through a national competition administered by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
Current stipend is $67,588 per year.
The next application deadline is August 1. Start dates for the positions are January to June.
Links
High Performance Computing and Visualization Group
HPCVG Real-time Quantitative Visualization Research Opportunity
HPCVG Parallel and Distributed Computing Algorithms and Environments