# Postdoc position in autonomous synthesis of nanomaterials, Berkeley Lab **URL:** \ **Category:** Job Board\ **Created:** [July 17, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://accelerated-discovery.org/t/postdoc-position-in-autonomous-synthesis-of-nanomaterials-berkeley-lab/538 "2025-07-17T22:38:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![emorychan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/76d3ee/32.png) [@emorychan](https://accelerated-discovery.org/u/emorychan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://accelerated-discovery.org/t/postdoc-position-in-autonomous-synthesis-of-nanomaterials-berkeley-lab/538/1 "2025-07-17T22:38:46Z")
## General Information **Position** : Postdoctoral Scholar **Organization** : [The Molecular Foundry](http://foundry.lbl.gov), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory **Location** : Berkeley, California, USA **Type** : Full time **Remote Work** : No ## Job Description The research groups of Staff Scientists [Emory Chan](https://combinano.lbl.gov) and Samuel Blau at Berkeley Lab are seeking a postdoctoral scholar to build and integrate leading-edge robotic and ML capabilities enabling autonomous synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals guided by both high-performance computation and deep learning. The Postdoc will lead efforts to adapt an existing robotic nanocrystal synthesis platform, Monte Carlo simulations, and graph neural networks to perform closed-loop discovery of lanthanide-doped upconverting and photon avalanching nanoparticle heterostructures for emerging applications in super-resolution imaging, optical computing, and additive manufacturing. ###Duties/Responsibilities - Develop a Python-based pipeline for closed-loop control of an existing Freeslate CM3 nanoparticle synthesis robot (HERMAN) and associated characterization tools and databases. - Physically and digitally integrate an in-line laser spectroscopy module into the synthesis robot workflow. - Integrate into the workflow a machine learning module that uses both prior experimental results and computational data to direct future robotic experiments and high-throughput simulations. - Demonstrate autonomous nanoparticle discovery on lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticle heterostructures. - Characterize the properties of synthesized materials using techniques including optical spectroscopy, microscopy, XRD, and TEM. - Analyze large datasets and develop mechanistic or statistical models that explain observations. - Publish results in high-impact journals and communicate results at international conferences. ## Qualifications **Essential:** - Ph. D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Data Science, Computer Science, or a related field. - 1+ year experience programming in Python or comparable computer language. Candidate should be able to design the necessary algorithms, data structures, and interfaces to accomplish a desired task, then successfully write, comment, test, and debug a program, given a desired behavior and no pre-existing codebase. - Exposure to basic concepts of machine learning. - Exposure to computer control of instruments. - Basic experience with chemical synthesis (inorganic, organic, organometallic, polymer, materials) - Experience characterizing the physical properties of materials, such as with optical spectroscopy. - Ability to quickly learn new scientific concepts, software, and hardware skills. - Excellent verbal and written communication skills. - Ability to maintain accurate, detailed, and clear experimental records. - Proactive in identifying, implementing, and following safety protocols. - Strong record of publication in peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings. **Desirable:** - Experience with machine learning – e.g. constructing and splitting datasets, model training, architectural development - Experience constructing or automating instruments - Expertise in synthesis of colloidal nanoparticles - Expertise in robotics, laboratory automation, or high-throughput chemistry - Expertise in high performance computing or simulation ## Compensation and Benefits Salary and benefits are determined by collective bargaining agreement based on experience and are highly competitive. ## Application Process **How to Apply** : Interested candidates should send a cover letter and CV to [EMChan@lbl.gov](mailto:EMChan@lbl.gov) ## Additional Information Additional information about the Chan group can be found at [https://combinano.lbl.gov](https://combinano.lbl.gov) Examples of our recent research in this topic area include: ChemRxiv 2025, DOI: [10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-1dw4q-v2](https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-1dw4q-v2) Nature Photonics 2025, 19, 212–218, DOI: 10.1038/s41566-024-01577-x Nature 2023, 618, 951–958, DOI: [10.1038/s41586-023-06076-7](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06076-7) Nano Letters 2023, 23, 11129-11136, DOI: [10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03568](https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03568) Nature 2021, 589, 230–235, DOI: [10.1038/s41586-020-03092-9](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-03092-9)