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Organization Overview:

The Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) at Brookhaven is a DOE-funded national scientific user facility, offering users a supported research experience with top-caliber scientists and access to state-of-the- art instrumentation. The CFN mission is advancing nanoscience through frontier fundamental research and technique development and is the nexus of a broad collaboration network. Each year, CFN staff members support the research of nearly 600 external facility users.

Three strategic nanoscience themes underlie the CFN scientific facilities: The CFN conducts research on nanomaterial synthesis by assembly designing precise architectures with targeted functionality by organizing nanoscale components. The CFN researches and applies platforms for state-of-the-art techniques for Accelerated Nanomaterial Discovery, integrating synthesis, advanced characterization, physical modeling, and computer science to iteratively explore a wide range of material parameters. The CFN develops and utilizes advanced capabilities for studies of Nanomaterials in Operando Conditions for characterizing materials and reactions at the atomic scale in real-world environments.

Position Description:

This project will focus on assessing whether general-purpose foundation models (FMs) can be used instead of hand-crafted analysis pipelines in the context of autonomous experimentation (AE). In particular, the project will study how x-ray scattering image-like datasets can be dimensionally reduced using existing vision models. In this position, you will investigate a variety of models, benchmark them vis-a-vis AE usage, and prepare reports demonstrating clearly the results.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
  • You will establish in-silico autonomous loops, with benchmarking.
  • You will conduct systematic studies of machine-learning models.
  • You will report clearly on systematic results.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Must be a college or graduate student enrolled in STEM.
  • You will work in the Python language and using established machine-learning libraries.
  • You will investigate a variety of vision models.
  • You will systematically study performance and prepare reports.
  • You are committed to fostering an environment of safe scientific work practices.


Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Former SULI experienced highly preferred.
  • You have knowledge of x-ray beamline operations and data.
  • You have direct experience with scikit-learn, pytorch, and gpCAM libraries.
  • You have experience with the concepts underlying AE.

Other Information:
  • Temporary/Part-time schedule of 7 hours per week (Monday - Friday).
  • This position is fully remote.
  • End Date, 12/31/2025.

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About Us

Brookhaven National Laboratory ( delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation's future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country, learn more at BNL | Opportunities for Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Brookhaven Science Associates is an equal opportunity employer that values inclusion and diversity at our Lab. We are committed to ensuring that all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a veteran, disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. BSA takes affirmative action in support of its policy and to advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. *VEVRAA Federal Contractor

BSA employees are subject to restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation at the time of hire for review by Brookhaven. The full text of the Order may be found at:
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