Research Associate (ECA)

Overview

The expected hiring range for this position is : $68,300.00-$97,967.00. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

About the Role

Fermilab is excited to announce one postdoctoral researcher position in artificial intelligence (AI) for science with Dr. Aleksandra Ciprijanovic (alexciprijanovic.com) and her research group. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team working at the intersection of deep learning, cosmology, and high-energy physics, with opportunities to contribute to both methodological AI research and applications in fundamental science.

In this position, you will have the opportunity to develop and apply new AI algorithms for science. Our group also welcomes new research directions, and collaboration across different groups at the laboratory and beyond. We publish in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, and there will be opportunities for travel and inter-institutional collaboration.

This Research Associate position is a term position for 3 years, renewable for a fourth and fifth year depending on funding and performance.

Your day-to-day as a Research Associate

Broadly, the activities in our group support the innovation, development, and application of advanced statistical and computing techniques to accelerate scientific discovery. In particular, we will develop a general deep learning framework that will advance and speed up AI model development in physics analysis. A particular focus of the project will be on :

• Graph Neural Networks for cosmology, neutrino and / or collider physics
• Domain adaptation methods / model robustness
• Uncertainty quantification
• Model interpretability

Experience with other deep learning methods, such as Convolutional or Bayesian Neural Networks, Simulation-Based Inference (SBI), Normalizing Flows, or Diffusion Models, is also a plus. The position includes a competitive salary, research / travel funds, access to telescopes, HEP experiments and supercomputing facilities.

Collaborations synergistic activities in astrophysics / cosmology include involvement with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), Dark Energy Survey (DES), CAMELS Simulations (camel-simulations.org), and the Deep Skies Laboratory (deepskieslab.com). Synergistic activities in neutrino physics include DUNE, MicroBooNE and ICARUS collaborations, and CMS and ATLAS in collider physics.

Community and Mentoring

Our group aims to provide a welcoming and equitable research environment, in which our community members nurture the scientific and professional growth of their colleagues. We expect all group members to respect, understand, and value individual differences. We also expect all group members to abide by and be responsible for performing all duties in accordance with all environmental, health, and safety regulations and practices pertinent to this position.

You will directly work with early career researchers (AI associates) and will have the opportunity to mentor and contribute to their work. Outside of the project there will be ample opportunity for working with students and researchers of all levels, as well as outreach and teaching opportunities via official summer programs at Fermilab.

Skills and Qualifications

Application Instructions

Please apply at the application portal. A full application will include

Complete applications received by November 30, 2025 (11 : 59pm AoE) will receive full consideration.

Questions can be directed to Aleksandra Ciprijanovic (aleksand@fnal.gov). Please don\'t hesitate to ask anything you\'re unsure about!

Benefits / Perks

Fermilab offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, including :

Equal Opportunity and Compliance

Fermilab is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.

REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus : Fermilab requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here : https : / / get-connected.fnal.gov / wp-content / uploads / 2021 / 09 / REALID-Documents.pdf

What to Expect Next : We\'ll be in touch. If your qualifications are in alignment with the position requirements, one of our recruiters will be reaching out to schedule a phone interview to learn more about your career interests and goals. In the meantime, we encourage you to check us out on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, or our About Us page.

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