AI Residency Program, Material Science (2026 Cohort)

AI Resident – 2026 Cohort

The AI Residency Program is a full-time research opportunity designed to bridge the gap between academic research and industry applications in AI for materials science. Residents will work closely with Lila scientists and engineers on high-impact, open-science projects, with the option to focus on either fundamental or applied research.

• Duration: 6–12 months (extension possible)
• Start Dates: First hires beginning January 2026, with rolling applications and additional intakes in Summer and Fall 2026
• Cohort Size: Small group of selected residents
• Mentorship: Pairing with technical mentors, feedback from cross-functional teams
• Resources: Access to proprietary datasets, high-performance compute, and Lila’s research infrastructure

Research areas include ML-accelerated simulations, Bayesian methods, representation learning, generative models, agentic science, and ML-driven automation.

Your Impact at Lila

The Lila Sciences AI Residency is a full-time research program at the intersection of artificial intelligence and materials science. As a resident, you'll join a cohort of researchers tackling open-ended scientific challenges alongside Lila’s world-class team of scientists and engineers. With access to proprietary datasets, high-performance compute infrastructure, and experienced mentors, you'll pursue ambitious research projects with both academic and real-world impact. Publishing is encouraged but not required — what matters most is pushing the frontier of scientific discovery.

What You'll Be Building

• Design and execute independent research projects in AI for materials science
• Collaborate with Lila scientists and engineers on cutting-edge, open-science initiatives
• Explore domains such as ML-accelerated simulations, Bayesian methods, representation learning, generative AI, agentic science, and ML-driven automation
• Contribute to collaborative team research and co-develop novel approaches to scientific discovery
• Share findings internally and externally; publications are welcome but not mandatory

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, AI/ML, Physics, Mathematics, or related field (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD)
• Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch)
• Experience working with large-scale datasets or simulations
• Familiarity with modern AI/ML architectures and training techniques
• Strong research background, demonstrated through publications, thesis work, or open-source projects

Bonus Points For

• Prior work on ML applications in scientific domains (e.g., materials discovery, chemistry, simulations)
• Familiarity with Bayesian optimization, active learning, or generative models
• Experience in reinforcement learning or agent-based approaches to scientific reasoning
• Open-source contributions or collaborative research experience
• Strong communication and writing skills, especially for conveying complex scientific ideas