PSE Autonomous Discovery Scientist

Argonne National Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 116,250 - 181,350; Full time

Job summary

Argonne National Laboratory's Physical Sciences and Engineering Directorate seeks an outstanding Scientist to lead frontier research at the intersection of AI, autonomous platforms, data infrastructure, and materials science and/or chemistry.

The candidate will form an independently funded program within 2–3 years and apply data-driven methods to accelerate discovery in design, characterization, and synthesis.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or related field.
• Proven track record in materials science or chemistry using autonomous platforms and AI/ML.
• Strong ability to articulate scientific problems relevant to DOE portfolio.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead an independent research program in materials science or chemistry using AI and autonomous labs.
• Leverage Argonne facilities and build novel platforms as needed.
• Publish in refereed journals and present at conferences, symposia, and seminars.
• Mentor postdocs, research staff, students, and other researchers.
• Ensure compliance with ES&H, safeguards, security, and work rules.

Job description

The Physical Sciences and Engineering Directorate seeks an outstanding Scientist to lead and support frontier research at the intersection of AI, autonomous platforms, data infrastructure, and materials science and/or chemistry. The candidate will have established expertise in materials or chemistry using autonomous platforms and AI to accelerate their research, with the expectation of forming an independently‑funded research program within 2‑3 years. The successful candidate will develop and apply advanced data‑driven methodologies to accelerate discovery in materials/chemistry design, characterization, and synthesis.

Focus Areas (expertise in one or more is highly desirable)

• Autonomous laboratories for materials synthesis and characterization
• AI/ML for predictive modeling and inverse design
• Generative models, reinforcement learning, and agent‑based approaches to streamline experimentation and accelerate discovery
• Integration of HPC, data infrastructure, and ML pipelines for data‑driven and autonomous research
• Digital twins and simulation‑augmented AI tools

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead an independent and collaborative research program in materials science or chemistry using AI and autonomous labs aligned with Argonne's and the DOE's missions
• Leverage existing facilities in autonomous labs, with the freedom to build other novel platforms
• Publish in refereed journals and present at conferences, symposia, and seminars
• Provide work direction and mentorship to postdoctoral appointees, research assistants, students, and technical staff
• Execute all activities in compliance with Argonne's ES&H policies, Safeguards and Security policies, work rules, and safe practices

Position Requirements

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or a related field
• Proven research track record in materials science or chemistry using autonomous platforms and AI/ML
• Demonstrated ability to formulate scientific problems relevant to the DOE portfolio
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with internal and external collaborators to achieve established goals
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment and provide scientific guidance to a diverse research community
• Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork

Application Materials Requested

• Cover letter detailing how your experience and expertise align with and will contribute to this position
• Curriculum vitae with publication list and contact information for three professional references
• 1‑page research statement outlining proposed research directions

Pay Range

RD3: Bachelors and 8+ years of experience, Masters and 5+ years, PhD and 4+ years, or equivalent - The expected hiring range for this position is $116,250 - $181,350 annually

RD4: Bachelors and 12+ years of experience, Masters and 7+ years, PhD and 6+ years, or equivalent - The expected hiring range for this position is $138,000 - $215,280 annually

Job Family: Research Development (RD)

Job Profile: Materials/Ceramics/Metallurgical 3

Worker Type: Regular

Time Type: Full time

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.

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