Postdoctoral Research Fellow

About the Opportunity

About the Institute

Do you want to be part of an exciting new Institute focused on combining human and machine intelligence into working AI solutions?

We are launching a pioneering research and innovation hub in AI—one that will shape the way humans and machines collaborate for decades to come. Led by Prof. Usama Fayyad, the Institute for Experiential AI is built around the challenges and opportunities made possible by human-machine collaboration. The Institute provides a framework to design, implement, and scale AI-driven technologies in ways that make a true difference to society. Our ability to respond to the opportunities afforded to society will depend on training and building a workforce that is AI-capable and prosperous. 

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experience-driven lifelong learning. Our world-renowned experiential approach empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create impact far beyond the confines of discipline, degree, and campus.

The Culture

Here at the Institute for Experiential AI (EAI) we are committed to the highest standards in all that we do.  Working at the EAI offers opportunities, an environment, and a culture that just aren’t found together anywhere else. This is the right place for you if you’re curious, motivated by the future of technology, and want to be part of a unique and diverse community that works on high-impact research, educational, business, and societal problems.

Job Summary

Northeastern University’s Roux Institute and the Institute for Experiential AI (IEAI) are seeking applications and nominations for postdoctoral researchers based at Roux in Portland, Maine, USA.

The selected researchers will be aligned with the AI for Climate and Sustainability (AI4CaS) focus area within IEAI and will get an opportunity to work closely with one or more faculty and with the private-public-government sector experiential partners. The cohort expects to fund up to five postdoctoral researchers in knowledge-centric and human-focused AI. The five thematic areas, as well as the core hiring and mentoring committee, are described below.

Themes: The cohort of five is envisaged to comprise hires in the following five thematic areas:

1. Theme 1 (“Nowcasting”): Hybrid Physics-AI for Short-term Weather and Hydrologic Prediction

Skillful predictions of weather and hydrology in the short-term (few hours to a few days) are difficult owing to model and data limitations, the importance of extremes and anomalies, as well as the need to appropriately blend physics with AI.

2. Theme 2 (“Downscaling”): Physics-Guided AI for Climate or Earth System Model Downscaling Global climate and earth system models yield massive simulations at low space-time resolutions and are subject to uncertainties resulting from human and natural systems as well as intrinsic variability. The need to translate to variables and scales relevant for stakeholders with appropriate uncertainty quantification requires physics-guided AI.

3. Theme 3 (“Human AI”): Knowledge-Integrated Human-Centered AI for Climate Resilience

AI and data science systems that are guided by human knowledge or help guide models can generate insights and metrics from massive volumes of complex data obtained from model simulations and/or remote and in-situ data. Stakeholder knowledge, such as, of cascading interdependence, can ground the models through knowledge graphs, rules, and

process understanding, with implications across sectors from ecology to infrastructure.

4. Theme 4 (“Communities”): Green and Resilient Communities and Entrepreneurship

Communities ranging from microspatial neighborhood or street levels to the scale of villages, towns, and cities, all the way to megaregions, continents, and the globe, need an entrepreneurial mindset, often with AI as one tool of choice, for targeted or frugal innovations to ensure resilience to compound extremes, assure clean water or air, prevent cascading failures across interconnected systems, and adapt to or mitigate global change.

5. Theme 5 (“Renewables”): Energy Storage Systems and Sustainable Renewable Energy

Energy storage systems and renewable energy infrastructures are critical for anticipating, preparing for, and mitigating weather and hydrological extremes, as well as to develop effective decarbonization strategies. The possible role of AI ranges from predictive models of solar insolation and wind variables to understanding and monitoring the water and carbon cycle, as well as for developing actionable strategies and scenario plans.

GENERAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, VALUES & ABILITIES NEEDED FOR THIS ROLE

A Ph.D. in  any aspects of climate and/or sustainability, with either by a PhD degree in any aspect of climate and/or sustainability sciences and engineering (e.g., to coincide with one of the five themes) and demonstrated interest and background in AI/ML and/or data sciences, OR, a PhD degree in AI/ML and/or data sciences and demonstrated interest and background in climate and/or sustainability sciences and engineering before the appointment start date A record of outstanding research during the Ph.D., as evidenced by publications, grants, software outputs, and other scholarly measures of impact. Proposal preparations for sponsored research funding, research experience involving team science projects, and project management experience are pluses.

Values & Abilities:

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively towards common research goals.

• We expect postdoctoral fellows to establish and advocate for best practices in scientific reproducibility of all results, and to promote the ethical use of data and algorithms.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with a variety of different stakeholders, e.g., academics, business executives, government officials, journalists/media, etc.

• Comfortable navigating complex internal processes and structures.

• Respect for the importance of interdisciplinary teams.

• Entrepreneurial mindset, self-starter and innovative thinker while at the same time being able to navigate multi-layered channels within a university setting and working across multiple teams/business units.

• Team-player who can collaborate effectively in a university setting.

• Open-minded, assertive, and professional when collaborating and working within our team and with other groups within Northeastern University.

Required Documents:

Please submit the following documents in a single Word/ PDF document along with your application-

Cover Letter (please specify the specialization(s) you are interested in) Resume Few samples of your Research Papers/Articles One page Research Statement. The research statement should not exceed 1 page. A reference cited section can be appended following the research statement and does not count towards the page limit. Please use 11- or 12-point size and a standard font. Page margins should be 1 inch or greater. Please address the following:

1. Describe your research and how it has contributed to your field?

2. What future directions do you anticipate for your research?

3. Who are your primary collaborators and what are your experiences with industrial collaborations?

About The Roux Institute

The Roux Institute is designed as an engine of innovation, talent-building, and economic growth for Portland, Maine, and northern New England. We are nurturing an environment for high-impact research and innovation in computer and data science, digital engineering, the advanced life sciences and medicine, and other tech fields. Partnership is what sets our education and research model apart. With leading companies at the table from day one, we are creating an agile workforce prepared to thrive in a competitive landscape powered by artificial intelligence as a force for good, and an environment for innovation in the life sciences and other high-growth sectors. Together, we envision an innovation corridor that in the coming years will stretch from Boston to Portland and beyond.

Position Type

Research

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

108S

Expected Hiring Range:

$60,315.00 - $85,192.50

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.