Research Associate (SDL1, Two-year Term)

Description:

The Acceleration Consortium at the University of Toronto invites applications for a Research Associate (Limited Term) for a 2-year appointment. The anticipated start date is December 1st 2026. The Acceleration Consortium (AC) at the University of Toronto (U of T) is leading a transformative shift in scientific discovery that will accelerate technology development and commercialization. The AC is a global community of academia, industry, and government that leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, materials sciences, and high-throughput chemistry to create self-driving laboratories (SDLs). These autonomous labs rapidly design materials and molecules needed for a sustainable, healthy, and resilient future, with applications ranging from renewable energy and consumer electronics to drugs. The Acceleration Consortium (AC) promotes an inclusive research environment and supports the EDI priorities of the unit. The Acceleration Consortium received a $200M Canadian First Research Excellence Grant for seven years to develop self-driving labs for chemistry and materials, the largest ever grant to a Canadian University. This grant will provide the Acceleration Consortium with seven years of funding to execute its vision. This posted position is for a role within the AC's SDL1 (Inorganic Materials).

Supporting and under the guidance of Staff Scientists / Senior Staff Scientists, the Research Associate is expected to carry out and contribute to research projects, by way of their expertise, in the areas below.

• Conduct research in automated and high-throughput materials discovery, including synthesis, processing, characterization, testing, and application-driven evaluation.
• Design and execute high-throughput experimental workflows to investigate structure-property-performance relationships in inorganic materials.
• Develop, implement, and optimize automated research workflows with real-time monitoring, data acquisition, feedback, and reproducibility controls.
• Analyze experimental datasets using computational, statistical, and/or AI/ML methods to extract insights into material performance, stability, and process-structure-property relationships.
• Adapt and improve experimental platforms, testing workflows, and characterization protocols to address specific research questions and improve data quality.
• Designing, modifying, and fabricating custom laboratory apparatus, fixtures, and devices.
• Develop research protocols, data-management practices, technical documentation, and best practices for automated and high-throughput experimentation.
• Contribute to manuscripts, technical reports, presentations, research proposals, and collaborative project planning.

Applicants should apply online at the link below and include a covering letter, curriculum vitae and three reference names with their contact addresses and phone numbers. Any questions regarding this position should be directed to Sean Caffrey (sean.caffrey@utoronto.ca). All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: PhD degree in engineering, materials science, chemistry, mechatronics, or a related field. Minimum 1 year of demonstrated research experience in automated, autonomous, or high-throughput experimental systems. Experience developing, integrating, or operating laboratory automation platforms for materials synthesis, characterization, or testing. Hands-on experience with laboratory instrumentation and characterization techniques such as SEM, XRD, XRF, spectroscopy, photochemistry, or related analytical tools. Experience in the design and optimization of photocatalytic or photothermal reactor systems for applications such as hydrogen production, CO2 conversion, or hydrocarbon dehydrogenation. Demonstrated experience in the design, synthesis, and evaluation of inorganic catalytic materials for photocatalytic, photothermal, or photoelectrochemical energy conversion. Additional skills required include project management, leadership and interpersonal skills to assist in the guidance and implementation of the research project that is comprised of a multi-disciplinary and international team of scholars.

Please refer to our website ( https://people.utoronto.ca/employees/) for some general information about benefits.

Closing Date: 11/30/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Research Associate
Appointment Type: Grant - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
R01 -- Research Associates (Limited Term): $53,520 - $100,350
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.

Job Segment: Sustainability, Project Manager, Laboratory, Research Associate, Energy, Technology, Science, Research

Organization

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada's largest university, recognized as a global leader in research and teaching. U of T's distinguished faculty, institutional record of groundbreaking scholarship and wealth of innovative academic opportunities continually attract outstanding students and academics from around the world.

U of T is committed to providing a learning experience that benefits from both a scale almost unparalleled in North America and from the close-knit learning communities made possible through its college system and academic divisions. Located in and around Toronto, one of the world's most diverse regions, U of T's vibrant academic life is defined by a unique degree of cultural diversity in its learning community. The University is sustained environmentally by three green campuses, where renowned heritage buildings stand beside award-winning innovations in architectural design.