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Location: Raleigh, NC
Essential Job Duties:
The Associate Director of Autonomous Science will contribute to advancement of the scientific and engineering vision for SPEED's autonomous laboratories, helping transform how experiments are designed, executed, analyzed, and optimized. This is a highly collaborative leadership role at the intersection of science, robotics, artificial intelligence, and advanced laboratory automation.
The Associate Director will coordinate the translation of complex scientific questions into closed-loop autonomous experiments that combine AI-driven planning, robotic experimentation, multimodal characterization, data analysis, and scientific reasoning. Working with SPEED scientists, engineers, researchers, and external users, the position will shape new capabilities, guide high-impact research programs, and ensure that autonomous experiments deliver rigorous, reproducible, and scientifically meaningful results.
Primary Responsibilities:
Autonomous Science and Engineering Leadership
- Lead design and operation of end-to-end autonomous experimentation workflows across SPEED's robotic laboratories.
- Translate scientific goals into closed-loop systems spanning experimental design, robotic execution, measurement, analysis, interpretation, and AI-guided experiment selection.
- Define requirements for integrating synthesis, processing, characterization, optimization, and autonomous decision-making.
- Advance Bayesian optimization, active learning, machine learning, scientific models, genetic algorithms, and AI agents in physical laboratory systems.
- Establish standards for controls, validation, uncertainty quantification, reproducibility, metadata, and experimental provenance.
- Evaluate AI-generated recommendations for scientific validity, feasibility, safety, and alignment with research objectives.
- Drive improvements in SPEED's reliability, throughput, autonomy, and scientific capabilities.
- Serve as scientific leader and primary point of contact for researchers using SPEED's autonomous experimentation capabilities.
- Translate user questions into defined experimental objectives, strategies, and success criteria.
- Assess project feasibility and develop experimental plans, autonomous campaigns, analysis strategies, and validation approaches.
- Partner with researchers and engineers to execute projects, interpret results, and resolve scientific and technical challenges.
- Lead reviews of experimental results, AI recommendations, uncertainty, emerging hypotheses, and next steps.
- Develop sustained research partnerships with academic, government, national laboratory, and industry organizations.
- Lead development and integration of new autonomous laboratory capabilities, methods, and application areas.
- Identify opportunities to expand SPEED across chemistry, materials science, catalysis, molecular discovery, formulation, process development, and related fields.
- Define requirements for robotic platforms, analytical systems, sensors, AI tools, and integrated workflows.
- Guide new capabilities from concept and prototyping through commissioning, validation, and deployment.
- Establish benchmarks to evaluate performance, reproducibility, and transferability.
- Evaluate emerging technologies in laboratory robotics, scientific AI, multimodal characterization, digital twins, agentic systems, and autonomous decision-making.
- Develop strategies to transfer methods, models, and experimental knowledge across SPEED platforms and partner laboratories.
- Contribute to strategic planning, equipment investments, partnerships, proposals, publications, and initiatives advancing SPEED's scientific mission.
- Provide scientific direction and mentorship to researchers, platform scientists, and engineering personnel.
- Coordinate multidisciplinary teams spanning science, robotics, automation, software, data, AI, and facility operations.
- Set project priorities, milestones, deliverables, and performance expectations.
- Review experimental plans, autonomous workflows, technical documentation, data products, and scientific conclusions.
- Lead technical discussions to resolve integration challenges and align scientific and engineering efforts.
- Establish consistent scientific, software, data, and documentation practices across SPEED platforms.
- Develop training, workshops, and technical demonstrations for researchers, users, and partners.
- Represent SPEED at scientific meetings, sponsor reviews, user workshops, advisory activities, and external collaborations.
Other Work/Responsibilities:
- Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.
Minimum Experience/Education:
- PhD in chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, robotics, or a closely related scientific or engineering discipline.
- Five or more years of relevant experience in autonomous experimentation, laboratory automation, robotics, artificial intelligence for science, high-throughput experimentation, or integrated scientific platform development.
Required Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience designing and executing experimental research in chemistry, materials science, molecular science, catalysis, process development, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience integrating multiple stages of an experimental workflow, such as synthesis, processing, sample handling, characterization, data analysis, optimization, and experimental decision-making.
- Experience applying machine learning, Bayesian optimization, active learning, design of experiments, or related computational methods to experimental science.
- Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary scientific and engineering projects involving researchers, engineers, software developers, and technical staff.
- Experience mentoring graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, research scientists, or technical personnel.
- Strong record of scientific problem-solving, experimental design, data interpretation, and technical communication.
- Ability to translate user-defined scientific questions into executable experimental plans and measurable objectives.
- Ability to communicate effectively with academic researchers, industry scientists, government partners, students, engineers, and nontechnical stakeholders.
- Ability to work primarily on site in laboratory and research-facility environments.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience developing or operating self-driving laboratories, autonomous research platforms, high-throughput laboratories, or remotely accessible scientific infrastructure.
- Experience integrating laboratory robotics with artificial intelligence, optimization algorithms, analytical instrumentation, and automated data pipelines.
- Experience with robotic synthesis, liquid handling, flow chemistry, automated materials processing, high-throughput characterization, or multimodal analytical methods.
- Experience applying AI agents, large language models, scientific knowledge systems, or automated reasoning tools to experimental research.
- Familiarity with scientific software development, instrument APIs, workflow orchestration, databases, metadata standards, and experimental provenance.
- Experience commissioning new scientific equipment or moving experimental platforms from prototype development to routine user operation.
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations, patents, software products, or other research outputs related to autonomous science.
- Experience developing research proposals, technical roadmaps, facility capability plans, or externally funded multidisciplinary programs.
- Knowledge of laboratory safety, robotic workcells, remotely operated experiments, hazardous materials, pressure systems, and unattended laboratory operations.
Required License or Certification:
- N/A
AA/EEO Statement:
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 (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
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.
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