Environmental/Civil Engineering, Computer Science/Engineering, Data Science

The Princeton University WET Lab (Water & Energy Technologies) is seeking a postdoctoral research associate or more senior researcher with expertise in Large Language Models (LLMs) for energy and environmental research and applications. The WET Lab, led by Professor Z. Jason Ren, is affiliated with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. The group focuses on the Water-Energy-Climate Nexus, including electrification, decarbonization, and digitalization of environmental and chemical sectors, using tools from electrochemistry, microbiology, and data science. The successful candidate will work with the principal investigator and team to develop, fine tune, and deploy LLM-based tools for environmental engineering research, education, and industry use, with particular emphasis on energy saving, emission accounting, and resource recovery. Responsibilities include exploring, collecting, and preprocessing data sources to develop domain-specific LLM training and test datasets; designing and implementing fine tuning and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) workflows for LLMs; maintaining codebases and data pipelines to ensure reproducibility and version control; integrating LLM modules into user-friendly decision support platforms; facilitating user testing and gathering feedback from research groups and industry partners; and drafting manuscripts, technical reports, and open source documentation for peer-reviewed publication. Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in Environmental/Civil Engineering, Computer Science/Engineering, Data Science, or a closely related field, and be proficient in Python or other programming tools and machine learning frameworks. A track record of open source contributions or tool development in AI/ML is required, with preference for candidates with hands-on experience fine tuning LLMs and building RAG systems. Background in environmental engineering domains such as energy auditing, greenhouse gas accounting, or resource recovery is preferred, along with a strong publication record and excellent communication skills. Experience in coding for high performance computing systems is desired. The appointment is for one year at the postdoctoral rank, with the possibility of renewal pending satisfactory performance and continued funding; more senior ranks may have multi-year appointments. The position is in-person on campus at Princeton University and subject to the University's background check policy. The expected salary range is $65,000–$71,000 for postdoctoral research associates and $67,000–$86,000 for more senior researchers, with a comprehensive benefits program available. To apply, candidates must submit an online application, CV, one-page statement of research interests, and contact information for three references. For more information, visit the WET Lab website or contact the provided email address.