The Center for AI-Driven Biomedical Research (AI4BIO) at Carnegie Mellon University invites applications for the AI4BIO Fellows Program, a new postdoctoral fellowship program for exceptional early-career scientists working at the frontier of AI and biology. AI4BIO Fellows will develop ambitious, independent research programs that integrate advances in AI and machine learning with major questions in biology and medicine. The program is designed for researchers who are ready to define their own scientific direction, build collaborations across disciplines, and become future leaders in AI-driven biomedical research.
Fellows will be based in Carnegie Mellon’s Ray and Stephanie Lane Computational Biology Department and embedded in the broader AI4BIO community. Each Fellow will be jointly mentored by two faculty members in CMU School of Computer Science who provide complementary expertise in areas such as AI, machine learning, computational biology, robotics, human-centered AI, or systems engineering. Fellows are expected to pursue an independent research agenda that bridges disciplines while actively engaging with multiple faculty groups, students, and collaborators across CMU.
Research areas may include, but are not limited to, AI models for genomics, molecular and cellular modeling, AI-enabled experimental design, autonomous discovery systems, trustworthy AI and agentic AI for science, and AI systems that connect computation with biological experimentation.
AI4BIO Fellows will receive strong intellectual and career-development support, including access to CMU’s world-class research environment spanning computer science, AI and machine learning, computational biology, robotics, engineering, and AI-enabled scientific discovery. Fellows will be expected to lead high-impact research and publications, initiate new collaborations, mentor students, and build a strong foundation for future faculty positions and other scientific or industry research leadership roles.
AI4BIO Fellows will also have opportunities to engage with the CMU AI Science Foundry, a university-wide initiative led by the Office of the Vice President for Research that advances new modes of AI-enabled scientific discovery, including autonomous laboratories, AI models, and data-driven experimentation.
Program Structure
The fellowship is a one-year appointment, renewable for one additional year following a satisfactory annual review.
Each Fellow will be jointly mentored by two CMU faculty members in the School of Computer Science.
Fellows are expected to develop an independent research direction rather than function solely within a single faculty laboratory.
Fellows will participate actively in AI4BIO seminars, workshops, collaborative projects, and community-building activities.
Fellows will be encouraged to use the fellowship period to prepare for the next stage of their careers, including faculty positions and independent research leadership roles.
Qualifications
Applicants should have a Ph.D. in computer science, machine learning, computational biology, bioengineering, statistics, applied mathematics, or a related field.
At the anticipated fellowship start date, applicants must have received their Ph.D. no more than two years earlier or expect to complete all degree requirements before the fellowship begins.
Applicants should show evidence of exceptional research creativity, technical depth, independence, and strong potential for leadership at the interface of AI and biology.
Applicants with strong AI, machine learning, statistics, or computational backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Applicants with strong biological or biomedical training are also encouraged to apply, especially if they have substantial computational expertise or a compelling plan to develop AI-driven research directions.
Application materials
Applications should be submitted through Interfolio Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a research statement of up to three pages, not including references, describing past work and proposed future directions, a short cover letter identifying potential CMU faculty mentors and areas of shared research interest, up to three representative publications or preprints, and three letters of reference submitted directly by the referees. Applicants are encouraged to contact potential faculty mentors before the application deadline to discuss alignment of interests.
Deadline for applications: All application materials, including letters of reference, must be received by November 15, 2026
Carnegie Mellon University is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or related condition, family status, marital status, parental status, religion, ancestry, veteran status, or genetic information. Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders.
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