The University of Texas at Austin · 1 month ago
Postdoctoral Fellow - TMI, Agentic AI, Texas Materials Institute, Cockrell School of Engineering
Austin, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$61K/yr - $61K/yrThe University of Texas at Austin is a top-10 engineering school and a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education. The Postdoctoral Fellow will lead research in agentic AI and autonomous laboratory systems, developing AI agents capable of orchestrating experimental workflows and contributing to autonomous materials discovery initiatives.
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Responsibilities
Develop agentic AI models and agentic orchestration frameworks for multi-step, multi-instrument experimental workflows (e.g., observe–reason–plan–act). Design closed-loop optimization and active learning strategies for real-time experiment steering and adaptive decision-making
Integrate agentic AI systems with instrument control APIs, laboratory scheduling systems, and data acquisition interfaces, enabling autonomous operation across diverse scientific instruments
Build and refine digital twins for synthesis and characterization workflows, using physics-based simulations and/or surrogate ML models
Collaborate closely with experimentalists, theorists, and engineers across academic and industrial partners. Work with postdoctoral fellows in liquid-phase synthesis, microdroplet printing, and characterization
Publish high-impact research, present findings at international conferences, and contribute to proposal development for new initiatives in agentic AI and autonomous laboratory systems
Mentor graduate students and research staff, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between materials science, data science, and robotics
Collaborate with the Texas Materials Institute’s instrumentation and AI engineering teams to help define the architecture for next-generation autonomous materials research laboratories at UT Austin
Performs other related duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Ph.D. in Materials Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related field, conferred within three (3) years before the start date of the appointment
Strong proficiency in Python and modern ML and agentic AI frameworks
Experience with control, optimization, or reinforcement learning, OR workflow automation / multi-agent systems
Demonstrated experience conducting independent research in a relevant area of materials science or engineering
Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals/conferences
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment. Comfort working with real-world experimental environments, including handling uncertainty, noise, and incomplete data
Commitment to mentoring and contributing to the academic development of graduate and undergraduate students
Benefits
Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with 7.75% employer matching funds
Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
Tuition assistance
Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card
Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card
Company
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest public universities in the United States.
Founded in 1922
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
The University of Texas at Austin has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
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Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (282)
2024 (210)
2023 (175)
2022 (186)
2021 (187)
2020 (190)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
unknownKey Investors
Republic Capital Group
2022-09-14Series Unknown
Leadership Team
Will Whiting
Chief Development Officer
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