☰
University at Buffalo
Postdoc Position

Postdoctoral Associate, Materials Design and Innovation

University at Buffalo · United States
Deadline
Apr 14, 2027
Closing in 177 days
Location
N/A
United States
Employment
Fixed contract (1-4 years)
Full time
Reference
N/A
Posted Oct 16, 2026
Offered salary$60,000

About the role

Employment Opportunities

Postdoctoral Associate, Materials Design and Innovation

Bookmark this Posting Print Preview | Apply for this Job

Posting Details

Position Information
Fiscal Year 2026-2027
Position Title Postdoctoral Associate, Materials Design and Innovation
Classification Title Postdoctoral Associate
Department Department of Materials Design and Innovation
Posting Number R260134
Posting Link https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/postings/64174
Employer Research Foundation
Position Type RF Professional
Job Type Full-Time
Appointment Term
Salary Grade E.89
Posting Detail Information
Position Summary The Department of Materials Design and Innovation at the University at Buffalo invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Associate in the Peng Research Group. The successful candidate will conduct research at the intersection of scientific AI, atomistic simulation, computational catalysis, and data-driven materials discovery.

  • The position will primarily support a U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission project developing closed-loop and agentic AI workflows for chemical-manufacturing research.
  • The associate will also contribute to an American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund project focused on the data-driven discovery of intermetallic alloy catalysts with unusual electronic structures.
  • The research will combine first-principles atomistic simulations, scientific machine learning, reaction modeling, and integration of computational and experimental data.
  • The associate will develop reproducible computational workflows, collaborate with researchers across multiple institutions and disciplines, and communicate research findings through publications, presentations, technical reports, software, and research datasets.

Learn more:
  • Our benefits, where we prioritize your well-being and success to enhance every aspect of your life.
  • Being a part of the University at Buffalo community.

The Research Foundation of SUNY is an EOE and welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with a disability.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Doctoral degree in materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, physics, computational science, or a closely related field. All degree requirements, including the dissertation, must be completed by the date of appointment.
  • Demonstrated research experience with density functional theory or closely related first-principles atomistic simulation methods.
  • Demonstrated research experience applying artificial intelligence or machine learning to scientific or engineering problems, including the development, training, validation, or evaluation of machine-learning models.
  • Proficiency in Python and experience working in Linux and high-performance-computing environments.
  • Experience developing or using automated and reproducible computational research workflows.
  • Ability to conduct computational research independently and analyze and interpret research data.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with graph neural networks, machine-learning interatomic potentials, or related scientific machine-learning methods for atomistic systems.
  • Familiarity with uncertainty quantification, active learning, Bayesian optimization, agentic AI, or closed-loop materials discovery.
  • Experience in computational heterogeneous catalysis, electrocatalysis, surface science, electronic-structure analysis, or alloy materials.
  • Experience with high-throughput density functional theory calculations, adsorption energies, reaction pathways, transition-state calculations, or microkinetic modeling.
  • Experience with scientific software development, version control, research data management, and collaborative code development.
Our University Community
Physical Demands
Driving Requirements This position will never drive a university owned vehicle.
Salary Range $60,000
Additional Salary Information The salary range reflects our good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible compensation at the time of posting, the role and associated responsibilities, and the experience, education, and training of the selected candidate.
Work Hours 37.5 hours per week
Campus North Campus
Posting Alerts
Special Instructions Summary
Is a background check required for this posting? No
Background Check Notification
Contact Information
Contact's Name Melissa King
Contact's Pronouns
Contact's Title Financial Transaction Specialist
Contact's Email [email protected]
Contact's Phone 716-645-4621
Posting Dates
Posted 09/02/2026
Deadline for applicants Open Until Filled
Date to be filled
References
Number of references required 2
Reference Cutoff Date
Instructions to Applicant

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  1. * Please indicate your current employment affiliation with the University at Buffalo.
    • Faculty
    • Faculty Student Association (FSA)
    • Research Foundation Employee
    • State Classified
    • State Professional
    • UB Foundation
    • TA/GA
    • Student
    • No Current Employment Affiliation
  2. * How did you first hear about this employment opportunity?
    • AcademicKeys.com
    • CareerExposure.com
    • CareerWomen.com
    • Chronicle of Higher Education
    • DiversitySearch.com
    • GoogleJobs.com
    • HERCjobs.org
    • HigherEdJobs.com
    • IMDiversity.com
    • Indeed.com
    • LinkedIn.com
    • MBACareers.com
    • Conference
    • Personal Referral
    • UBJobs.buffalo.edu
    • Other
    • WNY Jobs

Documents Needed To Apply

Required Documents
  1. Cover Letter
  2. Resume
Optional Documents

How to apply

Read the full posting, then apply through the employer's own site. Applications are handled by the institution, not by AcademicGates.

Apply now Save Complain this post Share this post

This site uses cookies to deliver our services and to show you relevant ads and job listings. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy, and our Terms and Conditions. Your use of AcademicGates’s Products and Services, is subject to these policies and terms.
If you do not use the cookie, some functions may not work properly.

OK Close