Post-Doc Research Associate/AI Developer

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities and is among is the top ten research universities in the nation for federal research expenditures as well as for federally funded social and behavioral sciences research and development.

Here at Carolina, our highly skilled postdocs play a vital role in our research enterprise and towards our overall commitment to research excellence. Across many disciplines, postdocs contribute to the intellectual vitality of the University. They provide innovative ideas and perspectives, foster a stimulating research environment and advance knowledge within their fields. Postdocs are crucial members of our scientific research workforce, contributors to our research outputs and an important reason why Carolina is one of the leading public research institutions in the country.

UNC-Chapel Hill offers postdocs comprehensive medical and vision coverage, paid leave, and benefits and services that support professional development and a healthy work/life balance. Chapel Hill regularly ranks as one of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, a reputation guided by the diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

The mission of the School of Nursing is to enhance and improve the health and well-being of the people of North Carolina and the nation, and, as relevant and appropriate, the people of other nations, through its programs of education, research, and scholarship, and through clinical practice and community service. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing has been the leader in nursing education in North Carolina throughout its history. Established in 1950, it was the first school of nursing in North Carolina to offer a four-year baccalaureate nursing degree program followed by the first master's degree program, the first continuing education program for nurses, first doctoral program, and first accelerated BSN option to students with college degrees. Today, the School is renowned for its academic programs, its research and its commitment to clinical and community service within state, national and global communities.

Who We Need:
The Center for Virtual Care Value and Equity (ViVE), PI: Saif Khairat, is seeking a highly motivated and talented Machine Learning Postdoctoral Researcher to join our AI research team and contribute to our innovative projects in the field of Large Language Modeling ( LLM) and clinical data analysis. Beyond core capabilities, we are seeking problem solvers, passionate and collaborative teammates, and those willing to roll up their sleeves while making a difference.

Program Details
Our Postdoctoral Research program is designed for candidates who have completed their PhD within the last two years and worked in their area of expertise since graduation as a postdoc, professor, or industry researcher/scientist. Candidates are expected to demonstrate both independence in defining their research strategy within a domain as well as an ability to apply innovative solutions to our products. Our postdoc research programs are designed to be a maximum of 12 months, with the opportunity to extend beyond the initially agreed term based on the UNC's needs and the candidate's desires.

This Opportunity
We are looking for machine learning experts who can utilize applied science and software development skills in building our AI-based ecosystem that help us address some of the hardest problems towards improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. You will work in an exciting and fast-paced environment, collaborating closely with multiple teams across the UNC. You will work as part of an organization that brings together talent from diverse backgrounds including software engineering, big data, machine learning and AI, clinical informatics, and medicine making our team an exciting place to work. We value and encourage diversity in the belief that our differences make us and our products better.

In this role, you will:
* Collaborate with researchers and engineers to design, develop, and refine large language models and generative models for various applications.
* Utilize your expertise in machine learning and natural language processing to develop novel algorithms and methodologies for generative modeling tasks.
* Implement, train, and fine-tune LLM and GPT-like models on large-scale datasets to ensure optimal performance and accuracy.
* Stay up to date with the latest research advancements and techniques in the field of language modeling, generative modeling, and machine learning.
* Deliver the next generation of innovation in trustworthy healthcare.

Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with a focus on machine learning, natural language processing ( NLP), Large Language Models (LLMs), multi-modal foundation models, and generative AI

* Strong theoretical and practical background in NLP including experience with state-of-the-art architectures
* Proficiency in deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.) and libraries commonly used in NLP and Generative AI
* Solid programming skills in Python and the ability to write clean, efficient, and well-documented code
* Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities, along with a strong analytical mindset and persistence in resolving problems
* Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment

* Experience with distributed parallel training, large-scale multi-modal foundation and generative models
* Familiarity with parameter-efficient tuning techniques, human-in-the-loop ( HITL), and prompt engineering techniques
* Familiarity with training multi-modal foundation models
* Familiarity with cloud-based infrastructure and experience deploying large-scale machine learning models in production environments
* A track record of publications and contributions to the machine learning and natural language processing communities

For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at (919) 962-9982 or send an email to opahr@unc.edu.

Please note: The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.