2026 PhD Graduate – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) Research Scientist

NLP PEOPLE; Maryland; On-site; USD 105,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education assistance

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory seeks early-career researchers to advance foundational AI research with cross-mission impact. Candidates will contribute to projects in alignment with national security and prosperity goals and may propose seedling ideas funded internally.

We encourage publication, collaboration, and growth into leadership roles within the REDD department. Citizenship and clearance eligibility are required, with support for securing interim and final clearances.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent degree with dissertation in AI research.
• Strong record of peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals/conferences.
• Proficient in Python with PyTorch/Jax and Hugging Face libraries.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to current AI/ML research within the Laboratory.
• Grow into a thought leader and help guide long-term research directions.
• Publish work and engage with the broader research ecosystem.

Skills

Python

PyTorch

Jax

Hugging Face

Security clearance eligibility

Education

PhD or equivalent degree

Job description

Description

Are you an early-career researcher hoping to invent the future of artificial intelligence (AI)?

Do you have a burning desire for your research to serve a bigger purpose?

Are you concerned about pressing challenges facing our nation’s security and prosperity?

If these questions describe you, you may be the kind of person the Artificial Intelligence Group at JHU/APL is looking for. We are a team within the Research and Exploratory Development Department (REDD) that strives to close the gap between frontier models and our sponsors’ expectations for an AI-dominated future. Our research programs are targeting foundational advances with cross-mission impact, such as:

Improving alignment of AI agents used in human-machine teaming and wargamingTraining multimodal foundation models on language and sensor dataIntelligent robots that use agentic AI to perform complex tasks in a self-directed wayAssessing, mitigating, and exploiting vulnerabilities of frontier modelsMission-driven test and evaluation (T&E) of novel research

We are seeking new PhD graduates that, in the short-term, can make important contributions to our current research, and in the long-term can grow into a thought leadership role for the Laboratory. We have many opportunities for you to propose your own ideas for internal seedling funding, and our Program Managers can help you grow these into externally-funded projects. Along the way, we will encourage and support publication of your work and engagement with the broader research ecosystem.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you:

Have a PhD or equivalent degree with dissertation work in fundamental AI research.Have a strong record of peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals and/or conferences.Are proficient in Python programming with experience using PyTorch and/or Jax, including Hugging Face libraries (transformers, diffusers, datasets, tokenizers, etc.).Are able to acquire an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately acquire a final Top Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You’ll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have research experience in any of these areas:

Measuring and increasing alignment between humans and AI agentsNovel techniques for training and/or fine-tuning foundation modelsModels or agents for robotic control and problem-solvingAdversarial and/or natural robustness of computer vision and autonomyNeural rendering techniques for 3D scene reconstruction

About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at ;

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact

Minimum Rate

$105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$245,000 Annually

Company:

Johns Hopkins University AppliedPhysicsLaboratory

Qualifications:

Language requirements:

Specific requirements:

Educational level:

Level of experience (years):

Senior (5+ years of experience)

Tagged as: Academia, Classification, Machine Learning, NLP, United Kingdom