Postdoctoral Researcher, Accelerated Materials Design & Discovery

At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we’re on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We’re developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience. To lead this transformative shift in mobility, we’ve built a world-class team in Energy & Materials, Human-Centered AI, Human Interactive Driving, Large Behavioral Models, and Robotics.
THE CHALLENGEThe long-term vision of TRI’s Accelerated Materials Design and Discovery (AMDD) program is to accelerate the development of truly emissions-free mobility. Realizing this vision will require the discovery of new materials and devices for batteries, fuel cells, and more. Our aim at TRI is to merge sophisticated computational materials modeling, new experimental data, artificial intelligence, and automation to significantly accelerate materials research. Our focus is on developing tools and capability to enable this acceleration. We collaborate closely with colleagues across global Toyota, as well as with universities and national labs. AMDD seeks to develop and translate the newest technologies into practice, both within Toyota and the open research community.
THE OPPORTUNITYThis role is based at our headquarters in Los Altos, CA. We are offering a Postdoctoral Researcher position for individuals who have recently completed their PhD and are ready to conduct cutting-edge research with real-world impact. This is a one-year appointment with an option to extend another year by mutual agreement. We are looking for researchers who want to learn about and tackle problems related to the scientific design of energy materials. Currently, we need to bridge the gap between simulation and experiment. You will help incorporate scientific theory or intuition into new machine learning models that provide actionable input for materials design in labs, not just on computers. You will collaborate with software engineers and researchers to translate your work into prototype tools, and gain scientific insights through Toyota-focused and open projects. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research and deepen your knowledge of the AI for Materials landscape.
THE TEAMYou will expand your professional network, as part of a creative team of scientists and engineers dedicated to enabling a sustainable future. Our team prioritizes learning new skills together at the interface of materials science and AI. You will be part of the Energy & Materials division which is accelerating Toyota’s path to carbon neutrality. In addition to our work on accelerating materials discovery, the division develops capabilities for battery manufacturing and provides strategic analysis on carbon neutral pathways and technologies.

Qualifications

• Have completed a PhD in the past three years in a related STEM field.
• Have a strong research background, including peer-reviewed publications, in the areas of materials informatics, computational workflows, lab automation, synthesis, electrochemistry, catalysis, batteries, fuel cells, and/or AI.
• Are proficient with Python.
• Are excited by the prospect of translating fundamental research into practical, human-centered tools that address real-world industrial problems.
• Thrive in a culture that values diversity, collaboration, humility, and learning.

Please add a link to Google Scholar and include a full list of publications when submitting your CV to this position.
The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $170,000 and $180,000/year for California-based roles; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Note that TRI offers a generous benefits package (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave) and an annual cash bonus structure. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
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