Postdoctoral Research Associate for AI and Computer Vision

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

401(k) matching

Tuition assistance

Flexible schedules

Relocation packages

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in Los Alamos, NM, is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to advance AI and computer vision methods for national security. You will analyze diverse image data—from microscopy to overhead imagery—and develop multimodal data fusion techniques within a collaborative, cross-disciplinary team.

Your work will apply to nuclear forensics and other LANL challenges, with opportunities to publish in peer‑reviewed venues and present at conferences.

Qualifications

• Experience with AI and computer vision algorithm development.
• Proficiency in Python, PyTorch, or TensorFlow.
• Experience scaling models in cloud or HPC environments.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop AI and computer vision methods for national security applications.
• Analyze image data from microscopy, overhead imagery, and video, plus multimodal data.
• Collaborate across disciplines, publish results in technical reports and papers.

Skills

AI algorithms

Computer vision

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Cloud/HPC

Communication

Education

PhD in related field

Tools

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

What You Will Do

The Computing and Artificial Intelligence (CAI) Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to develop innovative artificial intelligence and computer vision methods for national security applications. You will develop methods for analyzing image data from sources such such as scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, overhead imagery, and video, as well as multimodal and data-fusion approaches that integrate imagery, spectra, experimental measurements, natural language, and other heterogeneous data. Your primary research will apply these methods to nuclear forensics, with opportunities to contribute to other research challenges across LANL's national security mission.

What You Will Do

The Computing and Artificial Intelligence (CAI) Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to develop innovative artificial intelligence and computer vision methods for national security applications. You will develop methods for analyzing image data from sources such as scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, overhead imagery, and video, as well as multimodal and data-fusion approaches that integrate imagery, spectra, experimental measurements, natural language, and other heterogeneous data. Your primary research will apply these methods to nuclear forensics, with opportunities to contribute to other research challenges across LANL's national security mission.

You will work as part of a collaborative, cross-disciplinary research team spanning computer vision, machine learning, statistics, materials science, and other scientific domains. The position offers opportunities to develop new methods, work with challenging real-world scientific data, collaborate with experts across disciplines, and communicate research results through technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Experience with algorithm development for artificial intelligence and computer vision
• Proficiency in Python, PyTorch, or TensorFlow
• Experience scaling models in cloud or HPC environments
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Desired Qualifications:

• Expertise in computer vision for scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy
• Experience developing predictive and multimodal ML models
• Experience developing solutions for uncertainty quantification and/or out-of-distribution samples in limited, noisy, spare and/or high-dimensional data
• Past research collaborations with experimentalists
• Experience in multi-disciplinary research projects

Education:

Ph.D. in related field completed within the last 5 years or soon to be completed.

Work Location:

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Note to Applicants:

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Salary:

Competitive salaries are based on the date the PhD degree requirements were completed or the degree was awarded. Additional information on salary ranges and other benefits can be found online at https://collaboration.lanl.gov/postdoctoral-research/becoming-a-postdoc/salary-information/.

For questions about this position, please contact Kari Sentz ([e-mail]).

Candidates may be considered for a Director's Fellowship and outstanding candidates may be considered for the prestigious Marie Curie, Richard P. Feynman, J. Robert Oppenheimer, or Frederick Reines Fellowships.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: Q

Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance, and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

• Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

New-Employment Drug Test:

The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Internal Applicants:

Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity:

Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to [e-mail] or call (505)-664-6947.