Job Description

Classification Title:

Research Assistant Scientist

Classification Minimum Requirements:

PhD in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.

Job Description:

The Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (HWCOE) at the University of Florida is soliciting applications for a full-time, nine-month, time-limited, non-tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Research Assistant Scientist.

The Research Assistant Scientist position will provide strategic leadership in establishing and expanding a nationally recognized, externally funded research program at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and microelectronics failure analysis (FA), inspection, metrology, reliability, and advanced manufacturing. A central expectation is to identify emerging research opportunities and lead the development and submission of competitive proposals to federal agencies, industry sponsors, consortia, and other funding organizations. The successful candidate will define new research thrusts and long-term technical roadmaps; build multidisciplinary proposal teams; and develop sustained collaborations with academic institutions, government agencies, national laboratories, semiconductor manufacturers, equipment vendors, and other industry partners. Research directions may include machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), large language models (LLMs), vision-language models (VLMs), large multimodal models (LMMs), agentic AI, federated learning (FL), physics-informed AI, and related emerging technologies applied to advanced semiconductor packaging, integrated circuits, printed circuit boards, and broader microelectronics manufacturing and reliability challenges.

The position will also provide intellectual and technical leadership for interdisciplinary research programs in AI-enabled microelectronics inspection and failure analysis, with responsibility for guiding projects from concept development and experimental design through model development, validation, deployment, publication, and technology transition. Research may address multimodal defect detection and classification, computational imaging and reconstruction, anomaly detection, automated root-cause analysis, predictive reliability, multimodal data fusion, digital twins, trustworthy and explainable AI, autonomous and agentic inspection systems, and privacy-preserving collaborative learning. Relevant modalities may include X-ray imaging and computed tomography, scanning acoustic microscopy, optical microscopy, infrared and terahertz imaging, SEM/FIB, electrical measurements, and manufacturing or process data. Additional responsibilities include building and mentoring research teams; supervising graduate and undergraduate researchers and research staff; contributing to instruction, curriculum development, seminars, workshops, and workforce-training activities; disseminating research through high-impact publications and technical presentations; advancing intellectual property and technology transfer; and supporting the continued growth, visibility, and research infrastructure of the laboratory and associated academic–government–industry programs.

Expected Salary:

Commensurate with education and experience

Required Qualifications

PhD in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.

Preferred:

• Demonstrated expertise in AI/ML, including deep learning, computer vision, LLMs, VLMs, multimodal AI, agentic AI, physics-informed AI, or related emerging technologies.
• Research experience applying AI to microelectronics, semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, failure analysis, inspection, metrology, reliability, or related engineering challenges.
• Experience with multimodal imaging or characterization techniques such as X-ray/CT, scanning acoustic microscopy, optical microscopy, infrared/terahertz imaging, SEM/FIB, or electrical measurements.
• Strong record of peer-reviewed publications and demonstrated potential to develop an externally funded research program.
• Experience developing proposals and multidisciplinary collaborations with federal agencies, industry, national laboratories, or academic partners.
• Experience mentoring graduate and undergraduate researchers and working effectively in interdisciplinary teams.
• Familiarity with large-scale multimodal datasets, computational imaging, digital twins, autonomous inspection, or AI-enabled experimental systems is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated potential for technology translation, intellectual property development, industry engagement, and workforce training.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately, with the first full committee screening occurring on September 20th, and will continue to review applications until the position is filled. You must apply by submitting an application through UFCareers via https://jobs.ufl.edu/. (Job 541319)

The application consists of attached PDF files of the following required documents:

1. Cover letter (summary, introduction related to hiring emphasis areas)
2. Curriculum vitae (including a 1-page CV highlights)
3. Names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of no less than three and up to five references. Additional documents should be uploaded as one PDF to the “other documents” selection in the application.
4. A personal research program vision statement detailing short-and long-term goals.
5. A vision statement for area/unit detailing short-and long-term goals (identify any synergies with personal research program).
6. Encouraged, but not required, A personal teaching statement describing the applicant’s teaching experience and interests. The anticipated start date for this position is Fall 2026. For further questions, please contact Navid Asadi nasadi@ece.ufl.edu.

The University of Florida (UF) is the flagship campus of the State of Florida university system and is consistently ranked among the nation’s top public universities. UF is home to HiPerGator, the fastest AI supercomputer in higher education, and the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering is undergoing a major expansion in faculty, research, and facilities with a strong focus on artificial intelligence. In Fall 2023, UF opened Malachowsky Hall for Data Science & Information Technology, a 260,000-square-foot facility that serves as the hub for AI.

For more information about college initiatives, visit eng.ufl.edu

Additional Requirements

• The selected candidate must provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. Transcripts marked “Issued to Student” will not be considered official.
• Degrees earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

Additional Information

The University and College count among its greatest strengths a community of faculty, students and staff who support a culture of respect and dignity where learning and research thrive.

• If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD).
• Employment is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.
• All searches are conducted in accordance with Florida’s Sunshine Law.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity employer.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

Health Assessment Required: No