Postdoctoral Researcher

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Physics-Informed AI, Biomolecular Simulation, and Computational Biophysics

We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in the Tao Research Group at Southern Methodist University focused on developing a physics-informed AI platform for modeling and predicting biomolecular dynamics. The successful candidate will help advance new AI-assisted computational approaches to improve mechanistic understanding of protein conformational changes, enzyme function, and other complex molecular processes while reducing computational cost.

Applicants with a Ph.D. in computational chemistry, biophysics, physics, computer science, applied mathematics, or a related discipline are encouraged to apply. Prior experience with biomolecular modeling is preferred, but not required for candidates with exceptional strength in statistical mechanics, stochastic modeling, or AI-based method development. Candidates with a strong publication record in relevant areas are especially encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will be deeply involved in AI-assisted theoretical and methodological development, with a particular focus on developing purpose-built machine learning approaches to analyze high-dimensional molecular simulation data, improve modeling accuracy, and enable mechanistic interpretation of complex biomolecular dynamics. Applications of these methods may include protein conformational dynamics, enzyme catalysis, protein allostery, and large-scale biological or materials-relevant systems.

About the Tao Research Group

The Tao Research Group is committed to excellence in research, education, and mentorship, and offers a dynamic, collaborative, and inclusive environment for scientific discovery. Our research interests include theoretical and computational method development and their applications to biomolecular simulations, protein allostery, enzyme catalysis, and molecular mechanisms of biological function. More information about the group can be found at: http://faculty.smu.edu/ptao.

Southern Methodist University is located in Dallas, Texas, a vibrant metropolitan area with a growing scientific, biomedical, and technology community that provides ample opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter describing their research interests and relevant experience, a detailed CV, and contact information for three references to Dr. Peng Tao at ptao@smu.edu.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.