ADIA Lab - Senior Computational Scientist - Material Sciences

Role Overview

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority seeks a Senior Computational Scientist in Material Sciences to join ADIA Lab, an independent research institution based in Abu Dhabi specializing in data and computational sciences. This position plays a pivotal role in establishing a new research group, cultivating and expanding a globally recognized team of researchers, and leading lab-wide initiatives at ADIA Lab and within the broader international community.

Company Overview

ADIA Lab is a global research center dedicated to advancing computational science, data science, and AI to address challenges in climate, health, digital economy, and materials science. Located in Abu Dhabi, the Lab brings together leading researchers from around the world to build foundational knowledge, develop innovative computational methods, and enable breakthroughs that have global impact.

Role Purpose

The Senior Computational Scientist will lead the establishment and growth of a new Material Sciences research group within ADIA Lab, driving cross-disciplinary research that leverages computational science and data-driven discovery to accelerate breakthroughs in materials for energy, sustainability, and advanced technologies.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Group Development

• Establish and lead a new Material Sciences research group within ADIA Lab, focusing on computational modeling, simulation, and data-driven materials discovery.
• Play a central role in shaping, growing, and coordinating the Materials Science group as a core pillar within ADIA Lab's mission, ensuring long-term sustainability and global visibility.
• Work closely with ADIA Lab Fellows and the Advisory Board to shape the strategic direction of materials science research at ADIA Lab.

Research & Innovation

• Drive cross-disciplinary research combining physics-based modeling, data science, and high-performance computing to address grand challenges in materials for energy, climate, and technology.
• Develop and apply computational frameworks for multiscale modeling, quantum-to-continuum simulations, and AI-assisted materials design.

Team Building & Mentorship

• Build and coordinate a strong, collaborative research team and network, with an emphasis on strategic leadership and partnership development.
• Supervise and mentor junior scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and students, nurturing future leaders in computational materials science.

Collaboration & Partnerships

• Collaborate with national and international research institutions, fostering a community science approach to accelerate progress in computational materials research.
• Build partnerships with universities, laboratories, and industry to initiate joint programs, funding proposals, and collaborative platforms for materials informatics and open data.

Dissemination & Visibility

• Publish research results in high-impact journals, contribute to white papers and global assessments, and represent ADIA Lab at leading international conferences.

Qualifications & Experience

• PhD in materials science, physics, chemistry, computational science, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of post-PhD experience in computational materials research, data-driven materials design, or closely related domains.
• Proven record of leading a research group or major project in computational or data-driven materials science.
• Demonstrated expertise in atomistic and first-principles simulations (DFT, molecular dynamics), mesoscale modeling, or continuum methods.
• Experience with machine learning for materials discovery, data curation, and materials informatics platforms (for example Materials Project, NOMAD, AiiDA).
• Familiarity with high-performance computing environments, parallel programming, and workflow automation for large-scale simulations.
• Strong publication record and recognized contributions to the international materials science community.

Skills & Competencies

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C/C++, Fortran, and tools including Git, Linux, and LaTeX.
• Excellent leadership, mentoring, and communication skills.

Additional Information

• Be part of ADIA Lab's mission to advance computational and data sciences that address humanity's most pressing challenges.
• Shape a world-class research program, build and lead a dynamic interdisciplinary team, and collaborate with a global network of innovators driving the next revolution in materials discovery.