The NCSA Center for Artificial Intelligence Innovation and the High Energy Physics Group in the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) invite applications for the position of postdoctoral researcher. The selected candidate will be mentored by an interdisciplinary team of researchers—Eliu Huerta, Daniel S. Katz, Vlad Kindratenko, Mark Neubauer, and Zhizhen Zhao—at the interface of physics, artificial intelligence (AI), computer and information science, open science, and scientific software and data to lead the definition and implementation of findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) principles to artificial AI models and data in the context of high energy physics.
FAIR4HEP is a joint DOE-funded venture between UIUC, MIT, UMN, and UCSD. The postdoctoral researcher is encouraged to collaborate with all partner institutions.
At the University of Illinois the selected candidate will lead research activities towards making data and models available, around the definition and implementation of FAIR principles for data and models, and the combination of accelerated computing and scientific visualization to identify novel connections between data and models. Available resources for this work include the Hardware Accelerated Learning deep learning cluster, the Delta supercomputer, and multiple visualization teams at NCSA. The selected candidate will be encouraged to participate in internship opportunities offered by Fortune 50® companies affiliated with the NCSA Industry program.
The University of Illinois is a member of the ATLAS experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. Our ATLAS group contributed to the Higgs boson discovery and is actively pursuing discovery of new physics through analysis of LHC data. This pursuit includes the development and application of AI-based tools that seek to maximize our discovery potential. The successful candidate is expected to strengthen our efforts by leading the implementation of FAIR principles for HEP data and AI models that connect strongly to our ATLAS analysis efforts and broadly impact the potential for discovery in particle physics.
Ambitious applicants from diverse backgrounds and minorities are particularly encouraged to apply.
A PhD in physics, statistics, computer science, machine learning, data science, or related fields is required. Prior experience in software development and machine learning is advantageous, but not essential. Submit your application to ai@ncsa.illinois.edu. Complete applications must include:
- Cover letter (no more than 1 page);
- CV (1-2 pages recommended, but longer accepted);
- Statement of research interests (no more than 2 pages);
- List of publications;
- Three reference letters.
The deadline for the receipt of the application is December 1, 2020, but the search will continue until the position is filled.
The University of Illinois is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a strong institutional commitment to excellence through diversity.
The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer.