Faculty, Postdoctoral Researcher, and Research Engineer Opportunities - Autonomous AI-Robotic Workflows for Materials Discovery
Autonomous AI-Robotic Workflows for Materials Discovery
Overview
Are you passionate about building the future of autonomous scientific discovery?
The Interdisciplinary Research Center for Advanced Materials (IRC-AM) at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) is establishing a pioneering research initiative at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotic laboratory automation, and advanced materials science. Our vision is to develop autonomous laboratories for materials discovery, where AI models design experiments, robotic systems execute them, and the resulting data continuously improves future decisions through closed-loop learning.
The initiative aims to accelerate the discovery and optimization of advanced materials for energy, sustainability, and industrial applications by integrating machine learning, generative AI, reinforcement learning, laboratory automation, digital twins, and cloud-native research infrastructure into a unified discovery platform.
We are currently seeking exceptional candidates at multiple career levels, including Faculty Members, Postdoctoral Researchers, and Research Engineers.
Research Platform
Researchers will contribute to one or more components of an integrated AI-robotic discovery ecosystem, including:
- AI Property Prediction
- Generative Molecular and Materials Design
- Reinforcement Learning for Experiment Planning
- Autonomous Laboratories
- Robotic Laboratory Automation
- Digital Twin Workflows
- Scientific Data Platforms
- Cloud-Native Research Infrastructure
- Experimental Data Standards and Provenance
- High-Throughput Experimentation and Characterization
Opportunities
Faculty Members (Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor)
We seek internationally recognized researchers and emerging leaders who can establish and lead independent research programs in areas related to AI-driven materials discovery, autonomous experimentation, robotics, scientific machine learning, or related disciplines.
Faculty members will have the opportunity to build research groups, supervise graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, develop international collaborations, and contribute to the strategic growth of the Center.
Postdoctoral Researchers
We seek highly motivated researchers to advance the scientific and algorithmic foundations of autonomous materials discovery.
Areas of interest include:
- Scientific Machine Learning
- Generative AI
- Reinforcement Learning
- Materials Informatics
- Autonomous Experiment Planning
- Digital Twins
- Scientific Data Systems
- AI-Robotic Discovery Workflows
Research Engineers
We seek talented engineers to design, develop, and operate the infrastructure powering autonomous laboratories.
Areas of interest include:
- Robotic Laboratory Automation
- Laboratory Instrument Integration
- Data Engineering
- Cloud Infrastructure
- Software Development
- Scientific Workflow Orchestration
- Digital Twins
- Research Data Platforms
- MLOps and DevOps
Why Join Us?
- Help build one of the region's most ambitious AI-enabled scientific research infrastructures.
- Contribute to the development of autonomous laboratories for materials discovery.
- Work alongside leading researchers in AI, robotics, software engineering, and materials science.
- Access world-class research facilities and interdisciplinary research centers.
- Collaborate with national and international academic and industrial partners.
- Enjoy a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits within KFUPM's modern research environment.
How to Apply
Step 1 — Submit Your Expression of Interest
Complete the EOI form:
https://forms.office.com/r/HfjxhBMNyN
Step 2 — Email Your CV
Send your CV/resume to:
Please indicate the position title (and faculty rank, if applicable) in the email subject line.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submissions are strongly encouraged.
Contact Information
For inquiries regarding the initiative or available opportunities, please contact: