From bits to atoms. Backed by Accel, Lightspeed and a16z.
About the role
Join our world-class team of scientists and engineers building a lab where AI and automation speed up physical R&D.
What they're looking for
- Currently pursuing or recently completed a PhD (or advanced graduate degree) in materials science, physics, chemistry, or a related field
- Hands-on experience operating thin-film deposition equipment - sputtering, evaporation, PLD, ALD, CVD, MBE, or related techniques - developed in a university or research lab environment
- Familiarity with the practical realities of these systems - target conditioning, chamber qualification, substrate preparation, and recipe troubleshooting
- Basic thin-film characterization experience: you know how to read an XRD pattern, interpret an ellipsometry fit, and recognize a SEM image that signals a process problem
- Strong documentation habits and attention to detail. You log what you did, not just what you intended to do, and you understand why that distinction matters in a data-driven science environment
- Ability to ramp up quickly on new equipment and experimental workflows, and comfort operating independently in shared research facilities where you are responsible for your own training and access
More about this role
We’re an AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs across materials, energy, and beyond. Backed by world-class investors and growing rapidly, we operate at the pace the frontier requires. Our team brings deep expertise, genuine ownership, and an insatiable drive to push the boundaries of what’s scientifically possible.
Join our world-class team of scientists and engineers building a lab where AI and automation speed up physical R&D.
Periodic Labs is developing AI that can both simulate science and verify its predictions to train on the full scientific method. A key challenge is the gap between bulk materials discovery and thin-film form: materials our AI predicts and our powder lab synthesizes must ultimately be validated as scalable thin films to be relevant to semiconductor, memory, and advanced materials applications. We are building a dedicated thin-film lab while generating early data at partner facilities.
We're looking for a hands-on Research Associate in Thin Films to run advanced deposition and nanofabrication processes, generate high-quality experimental data, and collaborate closely with our AI and materials teams....
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