IPST Postdoctoral Fellowship in Artificial Chemical Intelligence
The Spring 2025 round of applications will be announced soon, stay tuned.
The Institute for Physical Science and Technology (IPST) at the University of Maryland (UMD) invites outstanding young scientists to apply for the inaugural IPST Postdoctoral Fellowship in Artificial Chemical Intelligence. Up to two Fellows will be selected to pursue computational research at the intersection of statistical mechanics, molecular simulations and Artificial Intelligence (AI) — collectively labeled as Artificial Chemical Intelligence — for tackling some of the most pressing scientific challenges facing society in areas of human health and energy. Many such difficult problems have inherently limited/poor quality data as well as complex domain requirements dictated by complex, sometimes unknown physicochemical laws. For this the Fellows will lead the development of new paradigms that deeply and fundamentally integrate theoretical chemistry with AI. Relevant to Artificial Chemical Intelligence, IPST has been at the forefront of discoveries in statistical mechanics and dynamical systems over several decades and provides a unique, stimulating environment for such research. Fellows will perform collaborative research in the group of Prof. Pratyush Tiwary (go.umd.edu/tiwarylab) which has been leading the development of new ways of thinking at the intersection of statistical mechanics and AI (see for instance [1], [2], [3]). Fellows will have the opportunity to mentor students in the Tiwary lab, interact with other researchers at UMD and industry/national labs, and perform outreach/teaching activities, thereby preparing them well for competitive academic/industry positions in Artificial Chemical Intelligence and related fields.
Each Fellow will be provided an annual salary of $75,000 and a comprehensive UMD benefits package. They will also be provided additional research/professional development funds of $5,000 annually, and access to high-performance computing (including UMD’s new 3.5 petaflop Zaratan supercomputer). The initial appointment is for 1 year and is renewable for a second year. Starting date is flexible. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
How to apply: Applicants should submit via email to ptiwary@umd.edu the following
(1) CV (2 pages) that includes a detailed publications list and contact information for two references. A PhD in any science/engineering discipline is required by the commencement of the Fellowship.
(2) Research Statement (2 pages), containing description of past research involving theoretical chemistry and/or AI, and future research directions at the interface of theoretical chemistry and AI.
More about IPST Postdoctoral Fellowship: The inaugural IPST Postdoctoral Fellowship is in the prioritized area of Artificial Chemical Intelligence, which will serve as the pilot for a Fellowship program that will expand to include other faculty and research areas of interest to IPST. All Fellows must be approved by the IPST Fellowship Program Committee. Applicants of all nationalities can apply. For any questions or clarifications about the Fellowship including those about timeline or eligibility, please email ptiwary@umd.edu.
More about IPST: The mission of IPST (ipst.umd.edu) is to pursue interdisciplinary research and education. The Institute provides support for theoretical and experimental research in areas at the intersection of traditional disciplines. Several of the faculty are members of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. UMD is an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.