"NSF-IGE Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Physics and Astronomy"

NSF-IGE Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Clemson University: College of Science: Physics & Astronomy

Location: 108A Kinard Lab

Open Date: Sep 22, 2025

Description

The Medical Biophysics (MBIO) graduate program, housed within the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Clemson University, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the NSF-funded Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) project. This project develops and evaluates ViTA (Virtual Teaching Assistant), an AI-driven educational platform that provides personalized learning support for graduate students in the MBIO program. The postdoctoral fellow will play a central role in the design, implementation, and evaluation of AI-driven learning technologies that integrate large language models (LLMs), adaptive learning, and analytics within the Canvas learning management system.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and refine AI-based virtual TA (ViTA) using local LLMs, reinforcement learning with human feedback, and retrieval-augmented generation.
• Integrate ViTA into the Canvas LMS for seamless use in graduate courses.
• Collaborate with MBIO faculty and learning scientists to design AI-guided problem-solving modules and assessment tools.

For more information about our IGE grant, please visit: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2530060&HistoricalAwards=false

About the Department:

The Medical Biophysics (MBIO) Graduate Program, housed within the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is a new interdisciplinary MS/PhD program launched in Fall 2022. MBIO offers broad training that integrates physics, biology, chemistry, bioengineering, materials science, and computational sciences. Unlike traditional medical physics programs, MBIO emphasizes molecular-to-systems scale biophysics and provides students with a multidisciplinary toolbox to address challenges in disease etiology, diagnostics, therapeutics, and medical technologies. The program involves 30+ faculty from across Clemson and PRISMA Health, offering students a collaborative environment at the interface of physical and life sciences.

For more information about the program, please visit the website: https://www.clemson.edu/science/academics/departments/physics/academics/mbio.html

For more information about Clemson, please visit the website http://www.clemson.edu/.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Physics, Computer Science, Data Science, AI/ML, Educational Technology, or a related field (degree in hand by start date).
• Strong background in natural language processing, machine learning, or AI model development.
• Demonstrated ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.
• Excellent programming skills (e.g., Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow, R).
• Strong communication skills and evidence of scholarly productivity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with educational technology, intelligent tutoring systems, or human-AI interaction.
• Familiarity with Canvas LMS integration or other e-learning platforms.
• Background in biomedical/biophysical sciences or demonstrated interest in interdisciplinary STEM education.
• Experience with data collection, survey design, or learning analytics.

Application Instructions

For full consideration, applications should be submitted by 10/15/2025. Review will continue until the position is filled.

Interested candidates should submit the following materials in a single PDF file to the following Interfolio link: https://apply.interfolio.com/174451

1. Cover Letter outlining research interests and relevant experience (1-2 pages).
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) including a full list of publications (2-3 pages).
3. Contact information for three professional references.
4. A brief (1-page) research statement highlighting expertise relevant to the position.

For more information, please contact Prof. Ramakrishna Podila (ramakrp@g.clemson.edu).

For more information and to apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/174451

Clemson University is an EEO/AA employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to characteristics protected by applicable law including disability and protected veteran status.