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About Us
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About Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech is a top\-ranked public research university situated in the heart of Atlanta, a diverse and vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. The Institute serves more than 45,000 students through top\-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech's faculty attracted more than $1\.4 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. Georgia Tech ranks among the nation's top 20 universities for research and development spending and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school. Georgia Tech also ranks first among U.S. public universities for energy and fuels research.
Georgia Tech's Mission and Values
Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:
1\. Students are our top priority.
2\. We strive for excellence.
3\. We thrive on diversity.
4\. We celebrate collaboration.
5\. We champion innovation.
6\. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7\. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8\. We act ethically.
9\. We are responsible stewards.
Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.
About Georgia Tech Interdisciplinary Research Institutes and Strategic Energy Institute
Georgia Tech has eleven IRIs that bring together researchers from different disciplines to address topics of strategic importance to the Institute as well as local, state, national and international communities. Reporting to the Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research (VPIR), these institutes facilitate initiatives that cross disciplinary boundaries. This includes work that tackles national and international challenges and questions related to clean energy, sustainability, public health, biotechnology, neuroscience, the bioeconomy, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and space exploration.
The Strategic Energy Institute (SEI) is one of Georgia Tech's Interdisciplinary Research Institutes, integrating energy activities across the Institute. SEI serves as a hub for more than 1,000 campus researchers working across the entire energy value chain the largest energy research portfolio of any university in the U.S. SEI is deeply engaged in building community, developing resources, and promoting thought leadership to marshal the full resources of Georgia Tech around tackling the tough energy and environmental problems and opportunities our society faces. Whether it is developing new knowledge that will lead to more efficient energy, commercializing a technology to address a specific challenge, or designing a roadmap for policymakers and decisionmakers, we understand the systems, technologies, and context of the ever\-evolving energy ecosystem.
Location
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Atlanta GA
Job Summary
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Serve as Georgia Tech¿s dedicated senior liaison to SRNL; formulate and communicate strategies and programs to advance the goals of GT, Strategic Energy Institute (SEI), and SRNL leadership, through activities such as collaborative research, convening stakeholders, and establishing target areas of strategic alignment. This role will also work to facilitate similar outcomes in advancing research between other universities in the Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA).
Impact and influence:
This position will interact on a regular basis with: SRNL and University executive leadership, national laboratory engagement program members, Campus research leadership (e.g., Associate Deans for Research, School chairs, Interdisciplinary Research Institute executive directors), Corporate Engagement, Government Relations, Commercialization, academic faculty, and industry partners.
Appointment terms:
This is a two\-year appointment with the potential of renewal upon mutual agreement, demonstrated performance, and availability of funds.
Renewal will be evaluated based on measurable outcomes towards sustained strategic research engagement between Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Georgia Tech (GT), and other university partners, such as facilitating collaborative projects, proposal development, joint publications, and intellectual property. This role will work directly with the Science, Energy, and Innovation Associate Laboratory Director at SRNL to ensure alignment of goals.
Responsibilities
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*SRNL\-University Strategic Engagement:*
- Lead efforts to scale the relationship between Georgia Tech and SRNL by serving as the primary GT\-based point of contact for SRNL engagement.
- Establish and implement core strategies to advance research priorities between SRNL, Georgia Tech and other BSRA partners.
- Design and execute processes that facilitate connections between SRNL researchers and faculty, centers, and institutes. Accelerate team formation and proposal readiness by managing the engagement strategy.
- Identify opportunities for strategic joint faculty appointments and student engagement with SRNL.
- Advance collaboration across priority areas, such as energy, advanced manufacturing, nuclear materials processing and disposition, environmental remediation, national security, grid resilience, and workforce development.
- Oversee discussions between GT\-SRNL leadership and translate priority strategies into actionable collaboration pathways of mutual interests.
- Develop SRNL\-university programs specifically designed to advance workforce development in energy.
*Proposal and Program Development:*
- Facilitate the formation of teams for the development of large, complex, multi\-investigator proposals involving SRNL and GT.
- Apply deep understanding of programmatic priorities to align proposal concepts with both SRNL and GT research capabilities.
- Drive communications with federal agencies regarding areas of SRNL\-GT collaboration and areas of national priorities.
- Serve as a liaison between SRNL and GT¿s offices of research development and operations to align proposal development, cost share, partnerships, etc.
- Coordinate SRNL participation in GT\-led initiatives and workshops.
*Integration within the framework of GT national lab program:*
- Operate within the GT national laboratory engagement framework to build programming and identify opportunities for strategic collaborations leading to long\-term funding.
- Coordinate closely with university executive leadership to ensure alignment with campus\-wide strategy.
*Communications and Outreach:*
- Contribute to communications outlining notable deliverables to key stakeholders which may including briefings, presentations, and web content, in coordination with the university and national lab communications teams.
- Represent SRNL\-GT engagement in internal GT meetings and selected external forums, as appropriate and aligned with GT national lab program leadership.
- Support workforce development and engagement practices, including coordination with regional partners where relevant.
Time commitment and boundaries:
- This role is dedicated to advancing SRNL\-GT collaboration and must maintain a clearly defined effort allocation to Georgia Tech activities.
- Activities involving other SRNL partner universities must not conflict with GT interests.
- Participation in multi\-institutional proposals must follow Georgia Tech conflict\-of\-interest (COI) and disclosure policies.
- When serving on proposals involving multiple SRNL partner universities, GT engagement responsibilities will be clearly defined and documented.
- Effort allocation and engagement boundaries will be reviewed annually.
Scope and authority:
- This role does not independently set Georgia Tech national laboratory strategy.
- This role does not supervise other national lab liaisons or programs.
- This role reports to the SEI executive leadership, who oversees strategic priorities, performance evaluation, and expansion of national lab engagement activities.
Required Qualifications
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This position vacancy is an open rank announcement. Final job offer will be dependent on candidate qualifications in alignment with Research Faculty ranks as outlined in section 3\.2\.1 of the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook (https://www.policylibrary.gatech.edu/faculty\-handbook/3\.2\.1\-research\-faculty\-hiring\-and\-promotion\-guidelines)
Final rank will be determined commensurate with education and experience
Research Scientist I
- Bachelor's Degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, or related area with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
Research Scientist II
- A Masters degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field,
and three (3\) years of relevant full\-time experience after completion of that degree, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
- A Masters degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field,
and five (5\) years of relevant full\-time experience after completion of a Bachelors degree, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
- A Doctoral degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
Senior Research Scientist
- A master's degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, and seven (7\) years of relevant full\-time experience after completion of that degree, or
- A master's degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, and nine (9\) years of relevant full\-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
- A Doctoral degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, and four (4\) years of relevant full\-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
Principal Research Scientist
- A Master's degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, and eleven (11\) years of relevant full\-time experience after completion of that degree, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
- A Doctoral degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, and seven (7\) years of relevant full\-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
Preferred Qualifications
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- PhD in engineering, physical sciences, or a related technical field, with commensurate experience for appointment at the appropriate rank.
- Demonstrated senior leadership experience in a national laboratory or equivalent research organization.
- Experience designing and implementing strategic research efforts between multiple institutions.
- Proven record of managing complex, multi\-stakeholder research programs funded by DOE program offices.
- Extensive experience developing and implementing strategies that align with DOE national laboratory operations, funding processes, and federal stakeholder engagement.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across academic, laboratory, federal, and corporate environments.
- 10\-15 years of working experience in a national laboratory or comparable federal research environment.
- Expertise leading or contributing to large\-scale federally funded or DOE\-funded research initiatives.
- Experience managing collaborations and deliverables with large teams (20\+)
- Experience facilitating leadership discussions, such as advisory committees, and developing and implementing strategic initiatives
- Experience bridging laboratory capabilities with university research ecosystems.
- Familiarity with advanced manufacturing, nuclear systems, environmental remediation, or integrated energy systems.
- Experience managing large piloting capabilities at the intersections of energy and manufacturing.
Contact Information
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For any further information, please contact Asha Menon at [email protected]
USG Core Values
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The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8\.2\.18\.1\.2 and can be found on\-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/\#p8\.2\.18\_personnel\_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6\.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on\-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653\.
Equal Employment Opportunity
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The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The Institute is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and Institute policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.
Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia ("USG") and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of an individual's race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.
Other Information
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This is not a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will not be required to drive.
This role is not considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P\-Card).
This position will not travel
This position does not require security clearance.
Background Check
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Successful candidate must be able to pass a background check. Please visit http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/employment/pre\-employment\-screening
Role Details
About This Role
Research Scientists push the boundaries of what AI can do. They design experiments, develop novel architectures, publish papers, and translate research breakthroughs into production capabilities. This is where the fundamental advances happen, from attention mechanisms to diffusion models to reasoning chains.
The work is intellectually demanding and often ambiguous. You might spend months on an approach that doesn't pan out. The best research scientists combine deep mathematical intuition with engineering pragmatism. They know when to go deep on theory and when to run experiments. They read papers voraciously and can spot incremental contributions from genuine breakthroughs.
Across the 3,823 AI roles we're tracking, Research Scientist positions make up 3% of the market. At Georgia Tech, this role fits into their broader AI and engineering organization.
Research Scientist roles are concentrated at major AI labs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Meta FAIR) and well-funded AI startups. The competition is intense. PhD is effectively required for most positions, and publication track record matters. Compensation is among the highest in AI, reflecting both the scarcity of talent and the strategic importance of research breakthroughs.
What the Work Looks Like
A typical week includes: reading and discussing recent papers with your team, designing and running experiments on multi-GPU clusters, analyzing results and iterating on hypotheses, writing up findings for internal review or publication, and collaborating with engineering teams to productionize promising results. The ratio of thinking to coding is higher than in engineering roles.
Research Scientist roles are concentrated at major AI labs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Meta FAIR) and well-funded AI startups. The competition is intense. PhD is effectively required for most positions, and publication track record matters. Compensation is among the highest in AI, reflecting both the scarcity of talent and the strategic importance of research breakthroughs.
Skills in Demand for This Role
PhD strongly preferred for most roles. Deep expertise in a specific area (NLP, computer vision, reinforcement learning, multimodal) is expected. PyTorch is the standard. Publication track record matters. Strong mathematical foundations in linear algebra, probability, optimization, and information theory are assumed.
Beyond the fundamentals, companies value experience with large-scale distributed training, novel architecture design, and the ability to bridge theory and practice. Understanding of current frontier topics (reasoning, multimodal, long-context, alignment) is essential. Code quality matters more than many researchers expect. Labs want researchers who can implement their ideas cleanly.
Strong research postings specify the research area, mention the team you'd join, and describe the problems they're working on. They often list recent publications from the team. Vague 'AI research' postings without specifics usually mean the company wants to sound impressive but doesn't have a real research agenda.
Compensation Benchmarks
Research Scientist roles pay a median of $223,400 based on 280 positions with disclosed compensation. Senior-level AI roles across all categories have a median of $227,400.
Across all AI roles, the market median is $200,100. Top-quartile compensation starts at $253,500. The 90th percentile reaches $307,500. For comparison, the highest-paying categories include AI Engineering Manager ($275,000) and AI Safety ($274,200). By seniority level: Entry: $97,880; Mid: $165,000; Senior: $227,400; Director: $247,800; VP: $250,000.
Georgia Tech AI Hiring
Georgia Tech has 3 open AI roles right now. They're hiring across AI/ML Engineer, Research Scientist. Positions span Atlanta, GA, US, Colorado Springs, CO, US.
Location Context
Across all AI roles, 15% (590 positions) offer remote work, while 3,217 require on-site attendance. Top AI hiring metros: New York (2,643 roles, $211,000 median); San Francisco (2,168 roles, $253,000 median); Los Angeles (1,792 roles, $191,580 median).
Career Path
Common paths into Research Scientist roles include PhD Student, Research Engineer, Postdoc.
From here, career progression typically leads toward Research Lead, Distinguished Scientist, VP of Research.
The PhD is the entry point for most paths. Choose your advisor and research area carefully since they'll define your first industry position. Publish consistently, contribute to open-source projects in your area, and build relationships at conferences. Industry research offers better compensation and compute resources than academia, but the pressure to show product impact is real.
What to Expect in Interviews
Research interviews are multi-stage: a research talk (present your best paper), technical deep-dives on your methodology, and often a 'research proposal' exercise where you design an experiment to test a hypothesis. Coding rounds test implementation ability alongside theoretical knowledge. Be prepared to implement a paper from scratch and discuss the design choices the authors made. Strong candidates can critique papers constructively and identify gaps in experimental methodology.
When evaluating opportunities: Strong research postings specify the research area, mention the team you'd join, and describe the problems they're working on. They often list recent publications from the team. Vague 'AI research' postings without specifics usually mean the company wants to sound impressive but doesn't have a real research agenda.
AI Hiring Overview
The AI job market has 3,823 open positions tracked in our dataset. By seniority: 112 entry-level, 1,798 mid-level, 1,516 senior, and 397 leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level). Remote roles make up 15% of the market (590 positions). The remaining 3,217 roles require on-site or hybrid attendance.
The market median for AI roles is $200,100. Top-quartile compensation starts at $253,500. The 90th percentile reaches $307,500. Highest-paying categories: AI Engineering Manager ($275,000 median, 41 roles); AI Safety ($274,200 median, 55 roles); Research Engineer ($260,000 median, 434 roles).
Research Scientist roles are concentrated at major AI labs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Meta FAIR) and well-funded AI startups. The competition is intense. PhD is effectively required for most positions, and publication track record matters. Compensation is among the highest in AI, reflecting both the scarcity of talent and the strategic importance of research breakthroughs.
The AI Job Market Today
The AI job market spans 3,823 open positions across 15 role categories. The largest categories by volume: AI/ML Engineer (2,629), Data Scientist (322), AI Software Engineer (279). These three account for the majority of open positions, though smaller categories often have higher per-role compensation because of specialized skill requirements.
The seniority mix tells a story about where AI teams are in their maturity. Entry-level roles (112) are outnumbered by mid-level (1,798) and senior (1,516) positions, reflecting that most companies are past the 'build a team from scratch' phase and need experienced engineers who can ship production systems. Leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level) total 397 positions, representing the bottleneck between technical execution and organizational strategy.
Remote work availability sits at 15% of all AI roles (590 positions), with 3,217 requiring on-site or hybrid attendance. The remote share has stabilized after the post-pandemic correction. Senior and specialized roles (Research Scientist, ML Architect) are more likely to be remote-eligible than entry-level positions, partly because experienced hires have more negotiating power and partly because these roles require less hands-on mentorship.
AI compensation is structured in clear tiers. The market median sits at $200,100. Top-quartile roles start at $253,500, and the 90th percentile reaches $307,500. These figures include base salary with disclosed compensation. Total compensation (including equity, bonuses, and sign-on) runs 20-40% higher at companies that offer those components.
Category matters for compensation. AI Engineering Manager roles lead at $275,000 median, while Prompt Engineer roles sit at $140,000. The spread between highest and lowest-paying categories reflects the premium on specialized technical skills versus broader analytical roles.
The most in-demand skills across all AI postings: Python (1,979 postings), Aws (1,190 postings), Azure (899 postings), Rag (839 postings), Gcp (726 postings), Pytorch (595 postings), Prompt Engineering (595 postings), Claude (540 postings). Python dominates, appearing in the vast majority of role descriptions regardless of category. Cloud platform experience (AWS, GCP, Azure) is the second most common requirement. The newer entrants to the top skills list (RAG, vector databases, LLM APIs) reflect the shift from traditional ML toward generative AI applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
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