Senior Staff Scientist (AC)

Date Posted: 09/23/2024
Req ID:39832
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Acceleration Consortium
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

 

Description:

The Acceleration Consortium (AC) at the University of Toronto (U of T) is leading a transformative shift in scientific discovery that will accelerate technology development and commercialization. The AC is a global community of academia, industry, and government that leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, materials sciences, and high-throughput chemistry to create self-driving laboratories (SDLs), also called materials acceleration platforms (MAPs). These autonomous labs rapidly design materials and molecules needed for a sustainable, healthy, and resilient future, with applications ranging from renewable energy and consumer electronics to drugs. AC Senior Staff Scientists will advance the field of AI-driven autonomous discovery and develop the materials and molecules required to address society’s largest challenges, such as climate change, water pollution, and future pandemics.

 

We are hiring a Senior Staff Scientist to co-lead research efforts at the Matter Lab, and relevant collaborations with the Acceleration Consortium (AC) in partnership with the Matter Lab’s Principal Investigator, Prof. Aspuru-Guzik.

 

The Matter Lab at the University of Toronto is dedicated to advancing scientific discovery through innovative technologies. By combining quantum chemistry, quantum computing, machine learning, and automation, we aim to develop new chemicals and materials that can benefit society. Our research integrates chemistry, materials science, physics, computer science, and applied mathematics, focusing on energy and functional materials. We strive to address pressing challenges related to sustainable energy, technological advances, and environmental protection.

 

The Matter Lab is working side-by-side with the Acceleration Consortium (AC) at the University of Toronto (U of T) to lead a transformative shift in scientific discovery that will accelerate technology development and commercialization. In particular, the AC is a global community of academia, industry, and government that leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, materials sciences, and high-throughput chemistry to create self-driving laboratories (SDLs), also called materials acceleration platforms (MAPs). These autonomous labs rapidly design materials and molecules needed for a sustainable, healthy, and resilient future, with applications ranging from renewable energy and consumer electronics to drugs. AC Senior Staff Scientists will advance the infield of AI-driven autonomous discovery and develop the materials and molecules required to address society’s largest challenges, such as climate change, water pollution, and future pandemics.

 

 

The Senior Staff Scientist will play a crucial role in the Matter Lab and the AC, by guiding a diverse team of undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research scientists in advancing our cheminformatics and computational modelling projects as well as experimental campaigns. This position involves spearheading the development and execution of advanced quantum mechanical studies, high-throughput computational screening, and materials discovery to address the most pressing world challenges. The Senior Staff Scientist will set strategic research directions, coordinate interdisciplinary collaborations, and drive innovative research programs utilizing our High-Performance Computing (HPC) facilities and Self-Driving Lab (SDL) platforms in partnership with the AC. This role will dual report to the Academic Director and Executive Director of the Acceleration Consortium.

 

We are looking for individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise to support the development of quantum chemistry, materials science, or related fields, and a demonstrated ability to manage and mentor a research team while driving significant scientific progress. The Senior Staff Scientists will work as a senior group leader of the Matter Lab alongside Prof. Alan Aspuru-Guzik and work alongside a diverse team of leading experts at the U of T and the AC.

 

Candidates that have experience in several or as many of the areas below will be prioritized:

 

• Physical, theoretical and/or computational chemistry
• Programming and high-performance computing
• Cheminformatics, including machine Learning for molecules and materials
• Computational and experimental high-throughput screening for discovery and molecular synthesis and characterization

  

The components and duties of the work include:

 

1. Co-leading Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Research Group

 

Working within the Matter Lab community, including PI Aspuru-Guzik, students, staff, and collaborators, to drive and co-supervise research projects involving the development and utilization of computational methodologies to tackle a wide range of energy-related relevant challenges by (i) developing quantum mechanical and classical methods motivated by the requirement of new technologies and validating their applications and (ii) integrating experimental validation and the utilization of SDL and high-throughput experiments to validate or refine computationally-driven hypotheses and discover new chemicals and materials for advance and environmentally friendly technologies and applications.

 

2. Matter Lab Group Operations and Management

 

Working with the Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, and AC research staff to ensure the Matter Lab is well-integrated and fully operational

This task will involve:

 

• Managing Matter Lab research group matters, including talent identification, recruitment, and organization of related scientific events.
• Preparing and co-supervising the individual employee development plans for Matter Lab research members.
• Identifying professional and developmental opportunities for Matter Lab members, such as awards, fellowships, funding, internships, conferences, academic courses, tutorials, summer schools, etc.
• Overseeing the activity of the laboratory technicians servicing the labs and supporting the selection, procurement, and installation of lab and HPC equipment, as well as required software acquisition.

 

 

3. Research Direction

 

Working as a co-supervisor, and in direct partnership with the principal investigator, Prof. Aspuru-Guzik, the candidate will carry out independent management, development, and execution of research programs that leverage the Matter Lab’s expertise and internal and external collaborations while supporting the research objectives of AC within the Matter Lab.

 

The candidate will leverage and advance state-of-the-art theoretical and computational chemistry methods to design, discover, and characterize candidate molecules or materials for relevant applications. Research will include computational studies in synergy with experimental approaches, utilizing standard and self-driving laboratories to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate promising targets. This process aims to validate and refine the Matter Lab’s discovery platforms, accelerating the identification of alternative and new solutions to real-world challenges.

 

Tasks include:

• Co-supervise the work of Matter Lab’s undergraduate and graduate students, postdoc fellows, research associates and visiting scholars.
• Act as the interface between the Matter Lab students, postdocs, and AC scientists for collaborative projects.
• Identify new research areas and projects aligned to sustainability and industrially relevant problems.
• Establish connections with industrial R&D groups and researchers; identify research opportunities and liaise between potential industrial partners, Matter Lab students, and postdocs.
• Direct projects implemented between Matter Lab and industry partners.
• Develop plans to support research collaborations and work closely with the Research Group Administative staff to estimate financial resources required for programs and/or projects.
• Prepare or co-supervise the preparation of manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed publications/journals and steward them through the process.
• Prepare and submit research proposals to granting agencies and progress reporting.
• Promote the Matter Lab research capacity, including delivering presentations at conferences.

 

 

4. Other (optional)

• Support industrially-linked projects and services related to the Matter Lab group’s expertise for the Matter Lab and AC’s partners.
• Support research-focused events such as an Annual Symposium

 

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education – Ph.D. in chemistry ormaterials scienceor related discipline

 

Experience

• At least ten (10) years of experience in academic and industrial research, preferably with significant experience in physical chemistry, chemistry, and materials science.
• At least five (5) years of experience working in industry R&D projects, preferably with a strong track record of innovation through computational simulation.
• Experience leading a computational and theoretical chemistry and/or materials science laboratory.
• Experience working closely with a PI or as a PI or as project director with responsibilities of managing, developing and executing a major research project
• Strong expertise in quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics, accompanied by a deep knowledge of chemistry, materials science, catalysis, industrial processes and other related fields.
• Experience working with high-performance computing clusters or cloud-computing resources.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages, along with experience in software or database development, including but not limited to Python, C++, or Fortran.
• Demonstrated expertise in delivering impactful research presentations at prestigious conferences, as well as other professional academic or industrial settings
• Experience managing students and research staff. 
• Experience managing a laboratory budget and procuring lab equipment and software.
• Demonstrated record of academic and/or research excellence accompanied by a strong scholarly publication record and submitted or awarded patents.

 

 

Skills

• Proven ability to identify novel applications for product development and effectively bridge the gap between cutting-edge scientific research and commercial technologies.
• Ability to lead research projects from inception through completion, including overseeing all stages of development and successfully publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals or securing intellectual property.
• Strong in communicating effectively and efficiently in oral and written English
• Collegial in working with team members and collaborators. 

 

Other  

 

• Demonstrated excellence in research through a robust record of peer-reviewed publications and patents.
• Strong presence and influence established in both academic and industrial domains.
• Extensive experience in developing and preparing manuscripts, presentations, reports, and scientific abstracts for peer-reviewed journal publications.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively within transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary teams, supported by a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence.

 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Closing Date: 10/01/2024, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Research Associate
Appointment Type: Grant – Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: 150K – 180K (salary will be assessed based on skills and experince)
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching