Staff Research Scientist (2 years term)

at  University of Toronto

Date Posted: 05/24/2024
Req ID:37417
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Acceleration Consortium
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

DESCRIPTION:

The Acceleration Consortium (AC) at the University of Toronto (U of T) is leading a transformative shift in scientific discovery that will accelerate technology development and commercialization. The AC is a global community of academia, industry, and government that leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, materials sciences, and high-throughput chemistry to create self-driving laboratories (SDLs), also called materials acceleration platforms (MAPs). These autonomous labs rapidly design materials and molecules needed for a sustainable, healthy, and resilient future, with applications ranging from renewable energy and consumer electronics to drugs. AC Staff Research Scientists will advance the field of AI-driven autonomous discovery and develop the materials and molecules required to address society’s largest challenges, such as climate change, water pollution, and future pandemics.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education – Ph.D. in computer science, engineering, chemistry, physics, life sciences, or related discipline

EXPERIENCE

• 1 to 5 years of experience (inclusive of PhD and/or post-graduate work) in accelerated research and development with demonstrated academic and research excellence.
• Experience working with industry partners and on industry lead research and development projects.
• Expert knowledge of AI and automation and experience with the development of self-driving laboratories.
• Experience presenting research at academic conferences

SKILLS

• Strong and effective communicator in oral and written English
• Collegial in working with team members and collaborators
• Ability to work independently

• 
  SDL and Automation Development
  Working with the AC community, including faculty and partners, to determine the required capabilities of the SDLs to be built. Developing the plans for SDLs that will meet user requirements and designing novel instruments for automated material synthesis and characterization. Developing customized hardware and Python software packages to build SDLs. Selecting, procurement, and installation of the equipment required for SDLs.
• 
  Research Direction
  Develop research programs that leverage the AC’s SDLs and support the research objectives of AC faculty and industry partners. Using SDLs to synthesize and characterize large quantities of candidate molecules, calibrating theoretical models with experimental data, predicting promising candidates with computational tools and machine learning algorithms, and elucidating structure-property relationships of emerging molecules, polymers, solid-state materials, formulations, etc.

Tasks include:

• Implementing research and development projects of AC’s industry partners when implemented in AC labs.
• Developing plans that support research collaborations and planning and estimating financial resources required for programs and/or projects.
• Working with Product Managers to ensure research outcomes meet partner requirements.
• Promoting AC’s research capacity, including delivering presentations at conferences.
• Collaboration in the preparation and submission of research proposals to granting agencies and progress reporting.
• Preparing manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed publications/journals and stewarding them through the process.

Other

• Supporting consulting services related to the application of SDLs for materials discovery for the AC’s partners.
• Support research-focused events such as the Annual Symposium.