PostDoc / Senior Scientist / Group Leader: AI-Driven Data Mining for the Physical Sciences

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PostDoc / Senior Scientist / Group Leader: AI-Driven Data Mining for the Physical Sciences

The Institute for Advanced Simulation - Materials Data Science and Informatics (IAS-9) operates across numerous disciplines including data science, materials theory and scientific metadata design. We are seeking a highly skilled PostDoc/Senior Scientist/Group Leader to lead pioneering research at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the physical sciences. Your primary focus will be on developing and fine-tuning Large Language Models (LLMs) and advanced AI methodologies for data mining of scientific literature and a large range of metadata in the context of research data. By integrating AI with physics, materials science, microscopy, and engineering, you will drive fundamental scientific discoveries and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in these fields. In this role, you will bridge AI technology with domain-specific expertise to unlock new insights from vast amounts of scientific data. Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, you will enhance semantic understanding and data interpretation through the incorporation of ontologies and knowledge.

Application tips & FAQs
Information on the application process and an overview of FAQs can be found here

Your Job:

You will support IAS-9`s ML and AI activities, working in a multidisciplinary team of enthusiastic data scientists, software developers, and domain scientists. Furthermore, you will lead the development and fine-tuning of AI models and LLMs specifically tailored for data mining in the physical sciences and engineering. This includes:

• Designing and implementing advanced algorithms for extracting, analyzing, and interpreting content from scientific literature, software and research data repositories
• Integrating domain knowledge from, e.g., materials science, microscopy, and physics into AI models to enhance their predictive capabilities
• Incorporating ontologies and knowledge graphs to improve semantic understanding and facilitate knowledge discovery
• Driving innovation in AI methodologies that contribute to fundamental scientific research and breakthroughs
• Publishing and presenting impactful research findings in high-quality scientific journals and at international conferences
• Mentoring and supervising a multidisciplinary team of researchers and data scientists, fostering a collaborative and innovative research environment

Your Profile:

• Master and Doctorate in Computer Science, Physics, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related field with a focus on Data Science and AI applications
• Extensive experience in developing and fine-tuning LLMs as well as other Deep Learning models in a scientific context
• Strong background in physical sciences (computational materials science, microscopy, physics) or engineering and familiarity with scientific literature
• Excellent proficiency in machine learning frameworks and programming languages (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Python) as well as high performance computing
• Knowledge of ontologies, knowledge graphs, and semantic technologies as they apply to scientific data mining and interpretation
• Proven track record of publishing in reputable scientific journals and presenting at leading conferences
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with experience in managing research teams and collaborating across disciplines

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We support you in your work with:

• Secure employment in a dynamic, international and multidisciplinary environment of scientists from different domains and software developers
• A creative environment, with an open-minded team (local and across Germany) with heterogeneous backgrounds and expertise
• Extensive occupational health management and a variety of sports activities (e.g. beach volleyball court, running groups, yoga classes, and much more)
• Ideal conditions for balancing work and private life, as well as a family-friendly corporate policy supported by our Equal Opportunities Bureau
• Flexible working hours in a full-time position (39 hours/week) with the option of slightly reduced working hours
• Flexible work arrangements, e.g. working from home
• 30 days of annual leave and provision for days off between public holidays and weekends (e.g. between Christmas and New Year)
• Capital-forming benefits and an employee pension scheme
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service

In addition to exciting tasks and a collaborative working atmosphere at Jülich, we have a lot more to offer: https://go.fzj.de/benefits

Place of employment: Aachen

You will be initially employed for a fixed term of 3 years with the prospect of longer-term employment. Salary and social security benefits will conform to the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund), pay group 13-14, depending on your current qualifications and the precise nature of the tasks assigned to you. All information about the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) can be found on the BMI website: https://go.fzj.de/bmi.tvoed. The monthly salaries in euros can be found on page 66 of the PDF download.

We are looking forward to your application including a motivation letter, CV, and relevant certificates. Relevant experience must be proven and be briefly highlighted in the mandatory letter of motivation. We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible – the job advertisement will be taken offline once the position is filled.

We particularly welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds (e.g. regardless of age, gender, disabilities, sexual orientation/identity, as well as social, ethnic, and religious background). We strive to offer a diverse and inclusive working environment in which people enjoy equal opportunities and are able to fulfill their potential.

We look forward to receiving your application. The job will be advertised until the position has been successfully filled. You should therefore submit your application as soon as possible.