Postdoctoral Research Program: Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Physical AI

Purdue University, West Lafayette Campus
Proposals Due – April 5, 2024

Apply to the Postdoc Program

Purdue University has launched a new major initiative, Purdue Computes, consisting of four pillars (Computing, Physical Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors and Quantum) that will connect faculty and students from across the institution. With generous support from the Purdue Office of Research and the Lilly Endowment, the newly launched Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) invites applications for a new Postdoctoral Research Program that will advance interdisciplinary research in physical artificial intelligence and establish next-generation leaders in this emerging field.

Summary

Eligibility:

• Current graduate students at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus who are in their final year of their PhD program (graduate in spring or summer of 2024). The graduate student must have two faculty co-advisors to provide support and mentorship for the project.
• Faculty from Purdue’s West Lafayette campus who intend to hire a post-doc are eligible to apply. The application needs to include two faculty. These faculty would serve as co-advisors to the yet to be hired postdoc.
• All projects must have two faculty co-advisors from Purdue’s West Lafayette campus. One advisor must have a background in AI/Machine learning, the other advisor must have a background in an applied discipline such as manufacturing, transportation, microelectronics, agriculture, science, health, etc.

Funding:

• Postdocs will receive annual salary support of $70,000 for 24 months with the option to renew for 12 months. They will also receive $2500 for professional development and $50,000 to support their research project.

Application and submission process:

All applications must be submitted by April 5, 2024. View the application and submission process.

Program Description

The Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence will provide funding to support postdocs whose innovative projects in artificial intelligence have the ability to make tangible impact on real-world problems in our physical environment.

The new IPAI Postdoctoral Research Program funds a postdoc full-time for 24 months, with the option to renew for an additional 12 months. During this period, postdocs undertake independent interdisciplinary research projects with faculty co-advisors, participate in professional development activities, including activities through IPAI, and are required to submit annual reports on their achievements.

Postdocs will partner with two co-advisors from different disciplines to apply artificial intelligence broadly for the common good.

The proposed research projects must be interdisciplinary and include AI/Machine learning and an applied discipline such as, manufacturing, transportation, microelectronics, agriculture, science, health, robotics, etc. Only applications that include a project with cross-disciplinary impact will be considered. Postdocs should identify projects that advance research or support critical data generation. These projects should lead to the submission of larger external grants or publications and advance their intended career path.

Research projects are invited in the following thematic areas:

• We Make. IPAI will support physical AI for manufacturing in Indiana and beyond.
• We Move. IPAI will translate Purdue’s expertise in supply chain, fuels, mechanics, and more to drive new knowledge in autonomous transportation. The vision is for high-end autonomous transportation throughout Indiana, such as trucks, large unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, aka drones), roads that recharge cars, and highway accident mitigation.
• We Grow. IPAI will apply expertise in forestry and agriculture to help farmers apply the right amount of nutrients, insecticides, and herbicides at the right time and places to protect the environment.
• We Thrive. IPAI will integrate bench-to-bedside expertise across health care disciplines to improve digital health care with improving diagnostics and treatment.

Benefits of IPAI’s Postdoctoral Research Program

Funded postdocs will be full-time staff and receive an annual salary of $70,000 and benefits. Participating postdocs will also receive $2,500 for professional development (e.g. attending conferences or workshops) and $50,000 to support their research. The co-advisors’ departments can provide additional matching funds.

Eligibility

The following groups are eligible to apply for the IPAI Postdoctoral Research Postdoctoral program:

• Current graduate students at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus who are in their final year of their PhD program (graduate in spring or summer of 2024). The graduate student must have two faculty co-advisors to provide support and mentorship for the project.
• Faculty from Purdue’s West Lafayette campus who intend to hire a post-doc are eligible to apply. The application needs to include two faculty. These faculty would serve as co-advisors to the yet to be hired postdoc. IPAI leadership must approve of selected postdoc to fill position.

Faculty co-advisors from Purdue’s West Lafayette campus must be from different disciplines. One advisor must have a background in AI/Machine learning, the other advisor must have a background in an applied discipline such as manufacturing, transportation, microelectronics, agriculture, science, health, robotics, etc. Co-advisors agree to support the applicant’s project and provide mentorship. While the student will be co-advised, one advisor should be identified as the primary advisor to improve the clarity for the student. A mentoring plan must be provided.