AI Research Scientist - Algorithm

Applied Materials India; Chennai District; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Materials India in Chennai is seeking an AI Research Scientist – Algorithm to lead innovative projects in AI and machine learning, focusing on scientific and materials solutions.

This role involves developing and refining generative models for scientific applications and requires a strong background in machine learning and Python programming. Candidates should hold an MS or Ph.D. in a relevant field.

The position offers a dynamic collaborative environment and potential for personal growth within a leading global technology company.

Qualifications

• Experience with LLM pretraining, supervised fine-tuning, and model evaluation.
• Hands-on with both structured and unstructured scientific data.
• Ability to present complex ideas clearly.

Responsibilities

• Develop, pretrain, fine-tune, and align LLMs and generative models.
• Design and implement generative approaches for materials discovery.
• Collaborate with teams to identify applications of generative AI.

Skills

Machine learning

Deep learning

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Generative AI

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Education

MS or Ph.D. in Computer Science or related field

Job description

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting‑edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips – the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world – like AI and IoT. If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next‑generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world.

What We Offer

Location: Chennai, India

You’ll benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career as you take on challenges and drive innovative solutions for our customers. We empower our team to push the boundaries of what is possible—while learning every day in a supportive leading global company. At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees and are committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth.

AI Research Scientist – Algorithm

We are a passionate, cross‑functional team at the forefront of applying cutting‑edge AI and machine learning to accelerate scientific and materials innovation. Our mission is to create domain‑specific, product‑centric algorithmic solutions that drive real impact for our customers. We thrive in a collaborative environment that encourages out‑of‑the‑box thinking and values diverse perspectives. Our team leverages state‑of‑the‑art generative AI and large language models to tackle complex problems in materials science, scientific discovery, and hardware design. We work closely with scientists, engineers, and product leaders to translate frontier research into practical, high‑value applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, pretrain, fine‑tune, and align LLMs and generative models tailored for scientific and materials science data, literature, and workflows.
• Innovate post‑training methods, alignment, and evaluation for domain‑specific LLMs, ensuring models are robust, accurate, and trustworthy for scientific use cases.
• Design and implement generative approaches to accelerate materials discovery, hypothesis generation, and hardware design.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and cross‑functional teams to identify impactful applications of generative AI in materials science.
• Build and curate scientific datasets, benchmarks, and evaluation protocols for model validation and continuous improvement.
• Stay current with advances in AI, machine learning, and materials science, and publish original research in top venues.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to a collaborative, inclusive research culture.

Technical Skills

• Strong background in machine learning, deep learning, NLP, and generative AI, with a focus on scientific or technical domains.
• Hands‑on experience with LLM pretraining, supervised fine‑tuning (SFT), post‑training alignment (e.g., RLHF), and rigorous model evaluation.
• Proficiency in Python and frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Experience working with structured and unstructured scientific data (e.g., literature, experimental results, simulation outputs) and developing domain‑specific models.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and present complex ideas to diverse audiences.

Requirements / Education

MS or Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field.

Other Information

Time Type: Full time
Employee Type: Assignee / Regular
Travel: Yes, 10% of the time
Relocation Eligible: Yes

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.