Staff Research Scientist (Term 2 year, AI Lab)
University of Toronto
- Toronto, ON
- $51,543-96,643 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
Req ID: 36240
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Acceleration Consortium
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)Description:The Acceleration Consortium (AC) at the University of Toronto (U of T) is leading a transformative shift in scientific discovery that will accelerate technology development and commercialization. The AC is a global community of academia, industry, and government that leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, materials sciences, and high-throughput chemistry to create self-driving laboratories (SDLs), also called materials acceleration platforms (MAPs). These autonomous labs rapidly design materials and molecules needed for a sustainable, healthy, and resilient future, with applications ranging from renewable energy and consumer electronics to drugs. AC Staff Research Scientists will advance the field of AI-driven autonomous discovery and develop the materials and molecules required to address society’s largest challenges, such as climate change, water pollution, and future pandemics.Hiring is occurring on a rolling intake. Please apply ASAP and do not wait for the listed job closing date.The Acceleration Consortium received a for seven years to develop self-driving labs for chemistry and materials, the largest ever grant to a Canadian University. This grant will provide the Acceleration Consortium with seven years of funding to execute its vision.The AC is developing seven advanced SDLs plus an AI and Automation lab:
- SDL1 - Inorganic solid-state compounds for advanced materials and energy
- SDL2 - Organic small molecules for sustainability and health
- SDL3 - Medicinal chemistry for improving small molecule drug candidates
- SDL4 - Polymers for materials science and biological applications
- SDL5 - Formulations for pharmaceuticals, consumer products, and coatings
- SDL6 - Biocompatibility with organoids / organ-on-a-chip
- SDL7 - Synthetic scale-up of materials and molecules (University of British Colombia partner lab)
- A central AI and Automation lab to support all the SDLs
- Adaptive AI-driven closed-loop experimental design and analysis (such as with Bayesian optimization)
- AI-accelerated discovery of materials and molecules
- Accelerating first principles calculations of materials and molecules with AI
- High-throughput experimentation (rapid serial and/or highly-parallel experimentation)
- Lab automation and robotic manipulation of lab operations
- SDL and Automation Development
- Research Direction
- Implementing research and development projects of AC’s industry partners when implemented in AC labs.
- Developing plans that support research collaborations and planning and estimating financial resources required for programs and/or projects.
- Working with Product Managers to ensure research outcomes meet partner requirements.
- Promoting AC’s research capacity, including delivering presentations at conferences.
- Collaboration in the preparation and submission of research proposals to granting agencies and progress reporting.
- Preparing manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed publications/journals and stewarding them through the process.
- Supporting consulting services related to the application of SDLs for materials discovery for the AC’s partners.
- Support research-focused events such as the Annual Symposium.
- 1 to 5 years of experience (inclusive of PhD and/or post-graduate work) in accelerated research and development with demonstrated academic and research excellence, AI applications for heterogeneous catalysis and self-driving laboratories.
- Experience working with industry partners and on industry-led research and development projects.
- Expert knowledge of AI and automation and experience with the development of self-driving laboratories.
- Experience presenting research at academic conferences
- Strong and effective communicator in oral and written English
- Collegial in working with team members and collaborators
- Ability to work independently
- Programming Skills in BASH, Python, Zig, Haskell, LaTex
- Computational Modeling Skills in VASP, Gaussian09, Quantum Espresso, Xtb(Crest), Orca.
- Must have a strong publication record
- Demonstrated success in the writing and preparation of manuscripts, presentations, reports, briefs, and scientific abstracts and manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals.
Employee Group: Research Associate
Appointment Type: Budget - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: R01 -- Research Associates (Limited Term): $51,543 - $96,643
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial