RF
RfcunyPostdoc Hardware AIBIOME
Salary$66k
LocationNew York, NY
Work modeon-site
Typefull-time
SeniorityEntry
Company size1,001–5,000 people
PostedAug 25, 2026 · 1mo ago
Verified live1d ago
At a glanceSummarised by Seekless from the posting.
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field
Strong experience in scientific instrument control and laboratory automation
Strong experience in embedded systems development
Strong experience in hardware programming in C/C++, Python, and/or LabVIEW
Strong experience in API development and software integration
Strong experience in microcontroller-based system design
Strong experience in motion control systems, including stepper motors, servo motors, and linear stages
Strong experience in interfacing scientific instruments and hardware using Serial, USB, Ethernet, or related communication protocols
Strong experience in integration of cameras, sensors, and data acquisition hardware
Strong experience in scientific software development on Linux or Windows platforms
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a highly interdisciplinary research environment
Experience in biomaterials research
Experience in microscopy and imaging systems
Experience in surface science instrumentation (e.g., AFM, optical microscopy, profilometry, spectroscopy)
Experience in laboratory robotics and high-throughput experimentation
Experience in machine vision and computer vision
Experience in cloud-based laboratory automation or remote instrumentation
Skills
C/C++
Python
LabVIEW
API development
Serial communication
USB communication
Ethernet communication
Linux
Windows
About the company
Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY).
The team at RFCUNY is made up of dedicated, talented professionals committed to providing the services that allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries.
We are pleased that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join RFCUNY.
Primary Location:
CUNY-ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER
Bargaining Unit:
No
About the role
The Nanoscience Initiative at the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate. The postdoctoral researcher will work with Prof. Xi Chen, Prof. Rein Ulijn, and facility directors to develop next-generation automation technologies for advanced biomaterials research. This position is supported by a newly funded NSF Cloud Lab (AI-BIOME) project aimed at using robots and AI-driven discovery to design, make, and improve materials far faster than conventional trial-and-error methods.
The successful candidate will lead the development of hardware and software systems that automate experimental workflows for the discovery and characterization of biomaterials, including self-assembling peptides and other bioinspired materials. The project combines embedded systems, robotics, scientific instrumentation, software engineering, and biomaterials research to enable high-throughput, cloud-connected experimentation across multiple imaging and surface science characterization platforms.
This position offers a unique opportunity to develop autonomous laboratory technologies that will accelerate biomaterials discovery while contributing to the next generation of cloud-connected scientific infrastructure. The successful candidate will work at the intersection of robotics, embedded systems, scientific instrumentation, artificial intelligence, and biomaterials research, with opportunities to publish in leading journals and collaborate with national laboratories and academic and industrial partners.
Responsibilities
Research Responsibilities:
•
Design and build motorized sample stages capable of handling multi-sample arrays for automated experimentation.
•
Develop embedded hardware and firmware for precision motion control, sensor integration, and instrument interfacing.
•
Create software frameworks and API-based instrument control for automated data acquisition and experiment execution.
•
Integrate microscopy, imaging, and surface science instruments into unified automation workflows.
•
Develop automate workflows for peptide synthesis, biomaterial characterization, and high-throughput experimentation.
•
Develop scheduling, scripting, and remote-control capabilities for cloud-enabled laboratories.
•
Collaborate with National Laboratories and other PCL nodes to deploy automation solutions across multiple experimental platforms.
•
Document hardware and software designs and contribute to open-source software and laboratory automation tools where appropriate.
•
Publish research in leading journals and present findings at scientific conferences.
•
Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
Candidates should possess strong experience in several of the following areas:
•
Scientific instrument control and laboratory automation
•
Embedded systems development
•
Hardware programming in C/C++, Python, and/or LabVIEW
•
API development and software integration
•
Microcontroller-based system design
•
Motion control systems, including stepper motors, servo motors, and linear stages
•
Interfacing scientific instruments and hardware using Serial, USB, Ethernet, or related communication protocols
•
Integration of cameras, sensors, and data acquisition hardware
•
Scientific software development on Linux or Windows platforms
Nice to have
Experience in one or more of the following areas is desirable but not required:
•
Biomaterials research
•
Microscopy and imaging systems
•
Surface science instrumentation (e.g., AFM, optical microscopy, profilometry, spectroscopy)
•
Laboratory robotics and high-throughput experimentation
•
Machine vision and computer vision
•
Cloud-based laboratory automation or remote instrumentation
The ideal candidate is an innovative engineer who enjoys building complete hardware-software systems to accelerate scientific discovery. They should be comfortable rapidly prototyping new instrumentation, integrating commercial scientific instruments, and collaborating with researchers from engineering, chemistry, materials science, and biology.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills are expected, along with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a highly interdisciplinary research environment.
Hiring process
Please note that applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.
Pay Range:
$66,300
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.