Student Assistant – Machine Learning for ASIC Design

This part-time temporary position is anticipated to begin September 1, 2026, and end December 18, 2026, on-site in Upton, NY. Work schedule: up to 19 hours per week (Monday–Friday). The position is eligible for part-time extension during the academic year pending business need, job performance, and funding.

About the role

The Instrumentation Department develops state-of-the-art instrumentation for experimental research programs at Brookhaven Lab and maintains expertise in specialized high-technology areas. This work supports present and future research directions, impacting global programs that rely on advanced radiation detectors and readout electronics.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on AI/ML methods for accelerating integrated circuit (IC) design.
• Participate in the deployment and testing of AI/ML-driven IC design algorithms to both open-source and industry-standard CAD tools.
• Participate in the development of AI/ML-driven IC design algorithms robust to circuit noise, mismatch, hardware failures, temperature changes, and other non-ideal effects.

Requirements

• Must be an upper-level undergraduate student (rising junior or senior) or a graduate student currently enrolled in an accredited college or university for a degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field with a focus on IC design.
• Experience deploying AI/ML models on common software toolchains.
• Basic knowledge of digital IC design flows, including digital simulation and logic synthesis.
• Knowledge of processor architectures, compilers, neural networks, and optimization.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to perform experiments using low voltage (<50 V) electrical equipment.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Knowledge of both the theoretical fundamentals and applications of machine learning.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary collaborations.
• Strong research experience (e.g., as evidenced by publication record).
• Excellent programming skills.

Pay

The full salary range for this position is $19.25 - $30.25 per hour. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualifications, education, and experience.

Benefits

Brookhaven National Laboratory offers a comprehensive employee benefits program. Review more information at BNL | Benefits Program.