AI4BIO Fellows Program

Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Center for AI-Driven Biomedical Research (AI4BIO) at Carnegie Mellon University invites applications for the AI4BIO Fellows Program, a new postdoctoral fellowship program for exceptional early-career scientists working at the frontier of AI and biology. AI4BIO Fellows will develop ambitious, independent research programs that integrate advances in AI and machine learning with major questions in biology and medicine. The program is designed for researchers who are ready to define their own scientific direction, build collaborations across disciplines, and become future leaders in AI-driven biomedical research. Fellows will be based in Carnegie Mellon’s Ray and Stephanie Lane Computational Biology Department and embedded in the broader AI4BIO community. Each Fellow will be jointly mentored by two faculty members in CMU School of Computer Science who provide complementary expertise in areas such as AI, machine learning, computational biology, robotics, human-centered AI, or systems engineering. Fellows are expected to pursue an independent research agenda that bridges disciplines while actively engaging with multiple faculty groups, students, and collaborators across CMU. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, AI models for genomics, molecular and cellular modeling, AI-enabled experimental design, autonomous discovery systems, trustworthy AI and agentic AI for science, and AI systems that connect computation with biological experimentation. AI4BIO Fellows will receive strong intellectual and career-development support, including access to CMU’s world-class research environment spanning computer science, AI and machine learning, computational biology, robotics, engineering, and AI-enabled scientific discovery. Fellows will be expected to lead high-impact research and publications, initiate new collaborations, mentor students, and build a foundation for future faculty positions and other scientific or industry research leadership roles. AI4BIO Fellows will also have opportunities to engage with the CMU AI Science Foundry, a university-wide initiative led by the Office of the Vice President for Research that advances new modes of AI-enabled scientific discovery, including autonomous laboratories, AI models, and data-driven experimentation. The fellowship is a one-year appointment, renewable for one additional year following a satisfactory annual review. Each Fellow will be jointly mentored by two CMU faculty members in the School of Computer Science. Fellows are expected to develop an independent research direction rather than function solely within a single faculty laboratory. Fellows will participate actively in AI4BIO seminars, workshops, collaborative projects, and community-building activities. Fellows will be encouraged to use the fellowship period to prepare for the next stage of their careers, including faculty positions and independent research leadership roles.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in computer science, machine learning, computational biology, bioengineering, statistics, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Received Ph.D. no more than two years prior to the anticipated fellowship start date, or expect to complete all degree requirements before the fellowship begins.
• Evidence of exceptional research creativity, technical depth, and independence.
• Strong potential for leadership at the interface of AI and biology.
• Strong AI, machine learning, statistics, or computational backgrounds.
• Strong biological or biomedical training, especially if they have substantial computational expertise or a compelling plan to develop AI-driven research directions.

Responsibilities

• Develop ambitious, independent research programs that integrate advances in AI and machine learning with major questions in biology and medicine.
• Define their own scientific direction.
• Build collaborations across disciplines.
• Pursue an independent research agenda that bridges disciplines while actively engaging with multiple faculty groups, students, and collaborators across CMU.
• Lead high-impact research and publications.
• Initiate new collaborations.
• Mentor students.
• Build a strong foundation for future faculty positions and other scientific or industry research leadership roles.
• Participate actively in AI4BIO seminars, workshops, collaborative projects, and community-building activities.
• Use the fellowship period to prepare for the next stage of their careers, including faculty positions and independent research leadership roles.

Benefits

• Strong intellectual and career-development support.
• Access to CMU’s world-class research environment spanning computer science, AI and machine learning, computational biology, robotics, engineering, and AI-enabled scientific discovery.
• Opportunities to engage with the CMU AI Science Foundry.
• One-year appointment, renewable for one additional year following a satisfactory annual review.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree