Research Scientist/Data Scientist (Open Rank), Center for Computational Mathematics

Description

Organizational Overview

The Simons Foundation is a private foundation established in 1994 in New York City by Jim and Marilyn Simons. With an annual grants and programs budget of $450 million, the foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences.

In 2016, the Foundation launched the Flatiron Institute (FI), a multidisciplinary institute whose mission is to advance scientific research through computational methods, including data analysis, modeling and simulation. The FI hosts scientists, applied mathematicians, and collaborating expert programmers who work to create, deploy and support new state-of-the-art computational methods.

Position Summary

Applications are invited for scientists at all levels of seniority at the Center for Computational Mathematics (CCM), in the Flatiron Institute, in all our active areas of research. These include: 

Machine learning, especially the areas of optimization, learning theory, probabilistic modeling, deep learning, and high dimensional data analysis, as well as applications of scientific interest at Flatiron (e.g., cosmological modeling, quantum many-body systems, computational neuroscience)

• Statistical methodology, modeling, and inference
• Probabilistic and differential programming
• Computational physics, including statistical mechanics, biophysics, fluid mechanics, quantum physics, and molecular dynamics
• Numerical methods for partial differential equations and integral equations
• Signal and image processing, with a particular focus on structural biology
• Numerical analysis, including numerical linear algebra and high-order methods
• High performance computing and open source software libraries

(For a full description of CCM research areas and scientific staff, please see our website.)

Research and Data Scientists are expected to lead active research programs at the forefront of their fields internationally, including dissemination of results through scientific publications, conferences, and/or software. They also are expected to interact with other researchers in CCM, across the Flatiron Institute, and in the wider scientific community, as well as supervise/mentor postdoctoral fellows and undergraduate/graduate student interns. They are encouraged to participate in and shape the vibrant activities of the institute such as workshops and seminars. They receive a research budget, participate in the selection and review of research staff, software engineers, and postdoctoral fellows within CCM, and have access to the institute’s powerful scientific computing resources.

Positions will be based, and have a principal office or workspace, at the Simons Foundation’s offices in New York City. The anticipated start date is between July and October 2026, but is flexible.

Tremendous opportunities exist at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, statistics, and their scientific applications, with the lines between theory, algorithm development and software implementation often blurred. Thus, a major goal of CCM is to develop the next generation of simulation and analysis methods and to make them available to the scientific community. The center also hosts an array of meetings, workshops, conferences, and visitors, serving as a focal point for the field internationally. The center has around 50 members.       

The Flatiron Institute also hosts computational centers for astrophysics, biology, quantum physics, and neuroscience. CCM encourages collaboration with these centers, and some      positions may be joint between CCM and another center. If you believe such a joint position could be appropriate for you, please indicate this in your research statement.

Qualifications

Education/Experience

• A doctoral degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., computer science, statistics, mathematics, or science application area)
• For Research/Data Scientists: 3 years o