Postdoctoral Appointee — AI-Assisted Scientific Visualization and Intelligent Data Exploration

Argonne National Laboratory • Lemont, IL

5d • $72,879 - $121,465 • Onsite

About The Position

The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) is seeking a postdoctoral appointee to join the Visualization and Data Analytics team. This role will contribute to the IDEAS (Intelligent Data Exploration Assistant for Science) project, a multi-year research initiative focused on creating AI-powered visualization systems for interactive exploration of extreme-scale scientific data. The position is at the intersection of scientific visualization, agentic AI systems, human-computer interaction (HCI), and high-performance computing (HPC). The postdoctoral appointee will collaborate with visualization researchers, AI scientists, and domain application teams across Argonne and the DOE ecosystem. The primary goal is to design, develop, and evaluate AI-driven scientific visualization assistants that facilitate intuitive, context-aware interaction with large-scale simulation and experimental data. The focus will be on the LLM/agent and HCI aspects of IDEAS, including mixed-initiative AI assistants, natural interaction paradigms, integration of agentic systems with visualization pipelines, and evaluation of trust, usability, and effectiveness.

Requirements

• PhD completed within the last 0–5 years (or near completion) in Computer Science, Computational Science, Visualization, Human–Computer Interaction, or a related field
• Strong background in scientific visualization, visual analytics, or interactive data exploration
• Experience programming in one or more languages such as Python, C/C++, or JavaScript
• Experience with AI or machine learning techniques, including large language models or agentic systems
• Experience developing or integrating interactive visualization systems, including web-based, immersive (XR), or experimental display environments
• Ability to create, maintain, and support high-quality research software
• Experience working collaboratively in multidisciplinary research teams
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork

Nice To Haves

• Experience with in situ visualization, data streaming, or real-time analysis workflows
• Experience with LLMs, conversational agents, or AI-assisted interfaces for scientific or data-driven applications
• Familiarity with HPC environments, distributed systems, or large-scale data pipelines
• Experience with game engines, XR systems, or advanced graphics frameworks applied to scientific data
• Record of publications in visualization, AI, or computational science venues
• Interest in working closely with domain scientists on real-world scientific problems

Responsibilities

• Research and develop AI-powered visualization assistants that explain, guide, and support scientific data exploration without replacing human judgment
• Design human-centered interaction models for AI-assisted visualization, including natural language, mixed-initiative workflows, and immersive or experimental interfaces
• Integrate LLM-based and agentic AI systems with scientific visualization frameworks, in situ pipelines, and data analysis workflows
• Prototype and evaluate visualization systems using realistic scientific data and simulations, including applications in cosmology, materials, fusion, environmental science, and light source data
• Collaborate closely with domain scientists to understand exploration needs and translate them into effective AI-assisted visualization tools
• Publish and present research results at leading venues in visualization, AI, and HPC (e.g., IEEE VIS, LDAV, eScience, ISC, SC)
• Contribute software, prototypes, and design patterns to shared research infrastructure at ALCF and across DOE projects

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package

What This Job Offers

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