Job description

The eBRAIN Lab (https://ebrain4everyone.com) in the Division of Engineering at New York University Abu Dhabi invites applications for a Junior Research Scientist position with a a Bachelor's or Master’s degree with less than 5 years of experience to work in the area of research and development (R&D) of next-generation Edge-AI and Embodied-AI Systems with tiny-LLMs, tiny-VLMs, tiny-VLAs; Agentic-AI systems; and Robust Generative AI targeting hallucination, safety and security issues. Besides robustness, systems should also be optimized for high performance and energy-efficiency to realized efficient Embodied/Edge-AI implementations. A key focus will be on investigating novel methods and their full-system deployment in real-world applications from different fields (like autonomous systems, healthcare, and robotics) with cross-validation.

Prof. Shafique’s lab has many-years of R&D experience in cross-layer design and optimization for building energy-efficient and robust brain-inspired, autonomous, and cognitive systems and intelligent vision systems, including efficient learning and inference of complex AI/ML algorithms, specialized neural processing hardware and design tools, and ML security, and their applications in resource-constrained Embodied-AI systems (like autonomous vehicles, UAVs/UGVs, Robotics, smart houses/cities, Wearables, and Healthcare). The long-term vision of the eBRAIN lab is on embedding an energy-efficient and secure electronic brain inside modern cyber-physical systems (CPS) and IoT-Edge devices to enable assistive cognitive technologies that care for / serve humanity and the ecosystem in a safe and green way.

The successful applicants will join and drive a number of fascinating projects on designing, implementing, optimizing, prototyping and testing innovative solutions (software, hardware, or both) for the next-generation embodied-AI, GenAI and Agentic-AI systems, targeting high performance & energy-efficiency, robustness, and trustworthiness. A key focus will be on full-system prototyping, IP generation, patenting, and participating in high-quality publications with other lead researchers of the lab. A special focus will be on highly efficient implementations and prototyping for real-world use-cases, and building TRL-4/5 prototypes and actively optimizing the engineered solutions. The candidates will work in a multidisciplinary environment consisting of PhD-level scientists, research engineers, graduate research students and undergraduate students, to investigate cutting-edge scientific methods and to develop full-system prototypes. The eBRAIN lab offers an excellent working environment with an international team of excellent researchers and engineers, high-tech equipment, and active R&D engagement, thereby providing many development possibilities. The candidates are expected to work in a highly collaborative environment with other lab members and industry collaborators.

Requirements:

Applicants should have a Bachelors or Masters in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Extensive and sound knowledge of Robotics, ML, AI, DNN, LLMs/VLMs, Multimodal LLMs, RAG, Agentic frameworks, tinyML, ML frameworks (like PyTorch and Tensorflow), and Prototyping ML systems is required. The candidate should demonstrate a solid experience in practical AI/ML system development, hands-on engineering works on these intelligent systems, and system-level optimizations. Additional knowledge on MLOps, robust/secure computing, Hallucinations and Alignment, privacy-preserving ML, and ML security is highly desirable. Applicants with strong industrial experience, engineering experience, and/or with publications in top ML venues (conferences and journals) are highly preferred. The candidates are also expected to have strong problem-solving, analytical, communication and writing skills as well as high motivation to pursue world-class development, prototyping, and research for practical ML/AI systems.

Application Procedure:

The terms of employment for these positions include very competitive salary with additional attractive benefits, including generous housing allowance, medical insurance with access to world class facilities, annual home leave allowance, and (if applicable) dependent private school fees. Salaries are tax-free in the UAE (for US tax, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion can be used). The researchers will have dedicated funds for traveling, computing, publications, etc. and will have access to excellent world-class research facilities.

The preferred starting date is October 2026, based on the processing steps. Applications will be accepted immediately and candidates will be considered until the position is filled. Review of applications will start on 03 Aug 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

To be considered, all applicants must submit the following documents, all in PDF format.

1. A cover letter

2. Detailed curriculum vitae (CV) with engineering and programming skills, R&D skillset

3. Full list of professional/industrial experience and scientific publications (if any)

4. University degrees and transcripts (with grades), or a letter from supervisor/university officials regarding tentative completion date.

5. 1-page executive summaries of BS and/or MS Theses

6. 1-page summary of professional experience, future growth plans

7. 1-page of Engineering and/or R&D accomplishments and interests

8. 1-page letter of Motivation

9. At least 2 letters of recommendation with contact information of the referees (can be provided later, if slightly more time is required)

10. An envisioned workplan over 2 years (can be provided after shortlisting)

11. Download links for the PDFs of BS and/or MS Theses (if available)

Please visit our website at https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/about/careers/postdoctoral-and-research.html for instructions and information on how to apply. If you have any questions,

please email Prof. Muhammad Shafique at [Click to show email].

About NYU Abu Dhabi

https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/

NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and research campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. Times Higher Education ranks NYU among the top 30 universities in the world, making NYU Abu Dhabi the highest-ranked university in the UAE and MENA region. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective undergraduate curriculum across the disciplines with a world center for advanced research and scholarship. The university enables its students in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and arts to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and advance cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi’s high-achieving students have come from over 120 countries and speak over 100 languages. Together, NYU's campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students opportunities to experience varied learning environments and immersion in other cultures at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents.

NYUAD is committed to upholding a culture of non-discrimination, anti-harassment, dignity, and mutual respect; providing equal access and opportunity; and fostering academic excellence in learning, research, and teaching.

Students are drawn from among the world’s best. They are bright, intellectually passionate, and committed to building a campus environment anchored in mutual respect, understanding, and care. The NYUAD undergraduate student body has garnered an impressive record of scholarships, graduate-school admissions, and other global honors. Graduate education is an area of growth for the University; the current graduate student population of over 100 students is expected to expand in the next decade as doctoral programs are developed.

Working for NYUAD

At NYUAD, we recognize that Abu Dhabi is more than where you work; it’s your home. In order for research staff to thrive, we offer a comprehensive benefits package. This starts with a generous relocation allowance; educational assistance for your dependents; access to health and wellness services; and more. NYUAD is committed to research staff success throughout the academic trajectory, providing support for ambitious and world-class research projects and innovative, interactive teaching approaches. Support for dual-career families is a priority.

Visit our website for more information on benefits for you and your dependents.

NYUAD is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and seek individuals who will contribute to the excellence and vibrancy of our academic community.

Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates. In line with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are encouraged to apply.

Join NYU Abu Dhabi, an exceptional place for exceptional people.

NYUAD values belonging and respect; such principles are fundamental to the university’s commitment to excellence. NYUAD is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and seek individuals who will contribute to our vibrant, multidisciplinary research and teaching community. Multidisciplinary research and exceptional teaching in a global campus community are hallmarks of the University’s mission.

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