Postdoctoral Research Scholar

NC State College of Engineering; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 59,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Leave

Faculty and Staff Assistance Program

LEAD courses

Access to sporting events

Childcare benefits

Wellness programs

Job summary

NC State College of Engineering in Raleigh, NC seeks a Postdoctoral researcher to develop and optimize machine learning models for molecular simulations and force-field development. You will work with interdisciplinary teams, preprocess large datasets, and benchmark against experimental results to advance materials discovery.

The role involves publishing results, contributing to open-source tools, and mentoring graduate students, with a focus on transferable, reproducible methods in a

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, or related discipline.
• Strong expertise in data science techniques, demonstrating ability in their application to materials research.
• Creativity and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a diverse multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize machine learning algorithms for molecular simulations.
• Gather and preprocess large-scale simulation and experimental data.
• Conduct molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical simulations to generate datasets.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and publish results in high-impact journals.
• Contribute to open-source software tools and maintain thorough documentation.
• Mentor graduate students and junior researchers in computational techniques.

Skills

Data science techniques

Communication

Creativity

Proactive approach

Education

Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, or related discipline

Job description

Posting Details

Position Information

Posting Number PG191770PD Position Number 00112322 Position Type Post Doc FLSA Exempt

Departmental Information

Department ID 140801 - Materials Science &Engineering Department 140801 - Materials Science &Engineering

Job City & State Raleigh, NC

Position Overview

Essential Job Duties

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at NC State University is a nationally recognized leader in materials discovery, design and deployment. Our faculty, students and staff work at the forefront of innovation: advancing materials that enable breakthroughs in energy, electronics, health, manufacturing and sustainability.

Research in MSE spans theory, computation, synthesis, characterization and scale-up, supported by a collaborative culture and state-of-the-art facilities on NC State’s Centennial Campus. Faculty lead internationally visible efforts in areas such as artificial intelligence-driven materials design, wide bandgap semiconductors, energy storage, nanomaterials, soft and biomaterials and structural materials under extreme environments.

Representative Labs Include

• Atomic-Scale Materials Lab
• Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Lab
• AIMS Lab
• Corrosion and Advanced Materials Lab
• Augustyn Research Lab

Learn how NC State MSE is leading the way to discover, create and enhance the world around us.

Machine Learning Model Development

Design, implement, and optimize machine learning algorithms to enhance or develop new force fields for molecular simulations. Focus on leveraging modern techniques such as neural networks, Gaussian processes, and transfer learning to improve predictive accuracy and computational efficiency.

Data Analysis & Preprocessing

Gather and preprocess large-scale simulation and experimental data. Identify key features, perform dimensionality reduction, and ensure the data is properly formatted for training machine learning models.

Simulation & Benchmarking

Conduct molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical simulations to generate training and validation datasets. Benchmark newly developed models against existing force fields and experimental results to assess performance and reliability.

Collaboration & Publication

Work closely with interdisciplinary teams of computational chemists, materials scientists, and biophysicists to apply machine learning models to a variety of systems. Publish results in high-impact journals and present findings at relevant conferences.

Software Development & Documentation

Contribute to the development of open-source software tools and frameworks for machine learning-based force field modeling. Ensure thorough documentation and reproducibility of all work.

Mentorship

Mentor graduate students and junior researchers in computational techniques, machine learning methodologies, and scientific writing.

Responsibilities

Other Work/Responsibilities Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Propositionand learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What We Offer

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement and Leave
• Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
• Enhance your career with LEAD courses
• Attend non-revenue generating sporting events for free.

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Requirements and Preferences

Work Schedule M-F, 8:00AM-5:00PM

Department Required Skills

NA

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education

• A Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Strong expertise in data science techniques, demonstrating ability in their application to materials research.
• Creativity and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a diverse multidisciplinary team.

Required License or Certification

NA

Valid NC Driver's License required? No Commercial Driver's License Required? No

Recruitment Details

Anticipated Hiring Range $58,656-$60,000

Recruitment Dates

Job Open Date 09/10/2026

Applicant Information

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Contact Information for References

Optional Documents

• Cover Letter
• Letter of Recommendation 1