Research Scientist, Materials Synthesis

Periodic Labs • Menlo Park, CA

3d

About The Position

We are an AI + physical sciences lab building state of the art models to make novel scientific discoveries. We are well funded and growing rapidly. Team members are owners who identify and solve problems without boundaries or bureaucracy. We eagerly learn new tools and new science to push forward our mission.

What to expect
Join a world-class team of scientists and engineers pushing the boundaries of materials research in a groundbreaking lab where AI and automation unlock discoveries at unprecedented speed and scale.
As a Research Scientist within the Periodic Labs experimental effort, you bring computational predictions into reality through solid state materials chemistry. In this role, you will both develop new materials synthesis approaches and be part of the team developing autonomous discovery loops.

Requirements

• PhD in chemistry, physics, or materials science, with 5+ years of hands-on experience.
• Proficiency with a diverse range of synthesis methods within solid state materials chemistry, including air-sensitive materials.
• Strong structural characterization skills (diffraction,microscopy, spectroscopy)
• Experience in characterizing the properties of crystalline materials
• Motivated by fundamental science questions that ultimately enable transformative applied materials.
• Strong track record of performing highly impactful research, demonstrated by publications in top tier journals and/or inventions, and recognized leadership in the field
• Experience with collaborations between computational and experimental researchers.
• Demonstrated commitment to laboratory safety

Nice To Haves

• Collaborations with national user facilities
• Novel synthesis or characterization technique or instrument development
• Experience handling experimental data at scale
• Experience with lab automation, software development, or similar tools to accelerate R&D data generation

Responsibilities

• Synthesis: Develop strategies to synthesize novel solid state materials.
• Characterization: Reveal and control the atomic structure of these materials.
• Analysis: Collaborating with the AI team in the development of predictive tools and analysis techniques that are grounded in chemistry and materials science.
• Automation: Collaborating with the engineering team to design and test new automated laboratory hardware for synthesis and characterization.

What This Job Offers

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