Date Posted: 11/11/2026
Req ID: 50840
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Acceleration Consortium
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Description:The Acceleration Consortium is looking for independent senior staff scientists to advance the use of quantum algorithms such as Quantum Phase Estimation (QPE), Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE), Quantum Adiabatic Evolution & Optimization, and Quantum Machine Learning Algorithms (QML) to accelerate the discovery of new materials and molecules. This scientist will work with a team of scientists with expertise in the use of AI and automation for materials discovery and a team of software engineers.
Experience in one or more of the following is desired:- Quantum Machine Learning (QML): Research and deploy hybrid quantum-classical AI models, geometric quantum machine learning, and quantum neural networks (QNNs) to accelerate materials property predictions, such as material properties, energy states, and crystal structures, bypassing heavy computational bottlenecks.
- Quantum Algorithm Exploration: Evaluate quantum or hybrid quantum-classical algorithms for molecular and many-body simulation, analyzing where quantum resources provide a distinct scaling advantage over classical methods.
- Software Engineering: Implement algorithms in quantum software frameworks, building modular APIs that connect quantum backends to classical chemistry pipelines.
- Developing Hybrid Workflows: Design and implement integrated computational workflows combining classical machine learning, AI surrogates (like machine-learned force fields), and quantum chemistry or first-principles calculations (DFT, molecular dynamics).
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work alongside experimental chemists, materials scientists, and core ML researchers to validate computational predictions and translate laboratory constraints into predictive models.
The components and duties of the work can include:1. Quantum simulation and quantum AI algorithm tool development Working with the AC community, including faculty and partners, to determine how quantum or quantum-inspired tools can increase the capabilities of the AC's SDLs or materials discovery campaigns.
Working with the AC software engineering team to create software packages to deploy quantum computational tools.
2. Facility Management and OperationsWorking with the department of Chemistry, Facilities and Operations, and AC research staff to ensure that the AC labs are fully operational.
- Overseeing the activity of the laboratory technicians servicing the labs
- Supporting the selection, procurement, and installation of equipment Managing laboratory budgets
- Scheduling and coordinating lab access
3. Research Direction Working as a co-investigator, in partnership with the Principal Investigator, independent management, development, and execution of research programs that leverage the AC's SDLs and supports the research objectives of AC faculty and industry partners. Using SDLs to synthesize and characterize large quantities of candidate molecules, calibrating theoretical models with experimental data, predicting promising candidates with computational tools and machine learning algorithms, and elucidating structure-property relationships of emerging molecules, polymers, solid-state materials, formulations, etc.
Tasks include- Managing the research and development projects of AC's industry partners when implemented in AC labs.
- Developing plans that support research collaborations and planning and estimating financial resources required for programs and/or projects.
- Supervising the work of Staff Scientists, Software Engineers, Research Associates, and Post-doctoral Fellows
- Working with Product Managers to ensure research outcomes meet partner requirements.
- Monitoring and reporting on relevant research activity to the Academic Director and Executive Director.
- Promoting AC's research capacity, including delivering presentations at conferences.
- Collaboration in the preparation and submission of research proposals to granting agencies and progress reporting.
- Preparing manuscripts for submission to peer review publications/journals and stewarding them through the process.
Other- Supporting consulting services related to the application of SDLs for materials discovery for the AC's partners.
- Support research-focused events such as the Annual Symposium
Minimum Qualifications:Education - Ph.D. in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Computer Science, Quantum Information, or a related quantitative field.
Experience- Over 10 years of experience (inclusive of PhD and/or post-graduate work) in research and development, preferably with significant experience in quantum algorithms
- Experience developing or analyzing quantum algorithms for classical or quantum data.
- Strong foundation in quantum mechanics, solid-state physics, or quantum chemistry workflows.
- Hands-on experience with atomistic and quantum simulation packages
- Experience with High-Performance Computing (HPC) job scheduling and large-scale data processing.
- Experience with Qiskit, scientific Python libraries, machine-learning frameworks, or Git/GitHub.
- Experience running experiments on quantum processors or combining quantum measurement data with classical machine learning.
- Experience working with industry partners and on industry led research and development projects.
- Strong experience presenting research at academic conferences.
- Demonstrated record of academic and/or research excellence.
Skills- Expert skills in Python, LATEX, Git, Microsoft Office
- Strong and effective communicator in oral and written English
- Collegial in working with team members and collaborators.
- Ability to work independently.
Other- Must have a strong publication record.
- Demonstrated success in writing and preparing manuscripts, presentations, reports, briefs, and scientific abstracts and manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Please refer to our website (https://people.utoronto.ca/employees/) for some general information about benefits.Closing Date: 01/08/2027, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Research Associate
Appointment Type: Grant - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: 150K - 180K (salary will be assessed based on skills and experience)
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching
