Postdoctoral Researcher – Machine Learning for Materials Science

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring within the Molecular Foundry division, a Department of Energy-funded nanoscience research user facility. The Molecular Foundry provides access to cutting-edge expertise and instrumentation in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment to scientists worldwide through a peer-reviewed applications process.

About the role

The Postdoctoral Researcher will collaborate with researchers from Argonne National Lab and Oak Ridge National Lab on the Department of Energy-funded project “AlphaFold for Microelectronics.” The role involves developing data infrastructure to capture and curate experimental and simulation data, as well as building machine learning models to predict the behavior of novel materials for memristor applications. This is an opportunity to contribute to a vibrant research community dedicated to excellent science in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with scientists to develop workflows for capturing data and metadata from experiments and simulations, storing them in the Crucible data platform.
• Work with experimental and computational researchers to define appropriate metadata, data-quality requirements, and analysis-ready data structures.
• Develop machine learning models that integrate multimodal experimental and simulation data.
• Contribute to the development of the Crucible Data Platform using software best practices.
• Present research results at national conferences and author publications.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Physics, Chemistry, Material Science, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Python or another major programming language for data analysis and familiarity with machine learning approaches.
• Knowledge of machine learning methods for materials science applications.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and contribute to the planning of a scientific research program.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to organize technical/scientific information, publish in top journals, and present at conferences.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate with a diverse interdisciplinary research team.
• Less than 3 years of paid postdoctoral experience.

Pay

This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes. The salary range is $99,192 - $110,808, paid on a step schedule per union contract. Each step represents one full year of completed post-Ph.D. postdoctoral experience.

Schedule

This is a full-time, 2-year postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of renewal based on satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds, and ongoing operational needs. Work will be primarily performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.