Ilias Bilionis

Purdue University is seeking a postdoctoral researcher for the ICoN Programmable Cloud Lab AI effort, led by Ilias Bilionis and Tianyi Zhang . The project focuses on agentic AI for scientific settings, especially systems that can interact safely and reliably with the physical world, including scientific instruments and laboratory systems. The research topics include harness engineering for scientific AI agents , curating and evaluating reusable agent skills , connecting coding agents with instruments , designing safe and auditable systems for autonomous experimentation , and developing domain-specific languages for scientific workflows . The post is especially relevant for candidates interested in AI for science, autonomous labs, scientific machine learning, and trustworthy AI systems. Applicants should have a PhD in engineering, computer science, applied mathematics, mathematics, physics, materials science, or a related scientific field. Strong experience with agentic AI , particularly coding agents, is preferred. Helpful background includes harness engineering, tool use, agent evaluation, scientific automation, and laboratory instrumentation. Knowledge of category theory is highlighted as an exceptional qualification. The position offers a collaborative environment spanning AI, experimentation, instrumentation, data, and physical modeling. The post also notes that Alejandro Strachan and Arun Mannodi Kanakkithodi are hiring a related postdoc on the same project with more emphasis on materials science expertise. Interested candidates should use the application link provided in the post. No deadline or funding amount is specified in the announcement.