Research Scientist, Polymer Physicist

The Materials and Systems Innovation (MSI) group, in Meta's Reality Labs Research, creates and accelerates breakthrough materials and device technologies that unblock the path to low-cost, all-day wearable AR devices and advanced sensing and actuating systems for robotics. We identify key technology gaps requiring step-change innovation, build AI-driven autonomous discovery pipelines to compress development timelines, leverage external partners to accelerate research, and deliver high-quality technology solutions through cross-functional, high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

Serve as technical lead for the polymer research group: own the scientific roadmap for polymer materials, set priorities, review designs and data, and mentor scientists and engineers across computational and experimental roles
Develop theoretical and computational models of polymer structures to provide fundamental understanding about electromechanical coupling in ionic polymers, gels, and polyelectrolytes
Build and apply multiscale simulation workflows to establish structure–property–performance relationships
Partner closely with experimentalists in the lab – understand and help design the experiments, interpret DSC/GPC/DMA/rheology/impedance/FTIR and actuation-and-sensing characterization, and reconcile models against measured data
Integrate computational workflows into our autonomous discovery platform, collaborating with automation engineers, data scientists, and AI agent scientists so that models, robotic workcells, and instrument data operate as a closed loop
Identify and champion new research directions in polymer science – including materials classes, physics, or device concepts beyond the current portfolio – and build the case, plan, and collaborations to pursue them
Represent the polymer effort in cross-functional reviews and with external academic and industrial partners; publish and present where appropriate

Qualifications

PhD in Polymer Science, Polymer Physics, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, or a closely related field
6+ years of combined postdoctoral and/or industry research experience in computational or theoretical polymer science
Demonstrated depth in polymer theory and computational modeling – statistical mechanics of polymers, viscoelasticity and rheology, transport phenomena, and multiscale simulation methods
Demonstrated ability to work directly with experimentalists: understanding experimental methods, interpreting characterization data, and using models to guide bench work
Evidence of technical leadership – leading projects or sub-teams, mentoring scientists, and driving multi-person research agendas to results, navigating complex stakeholder management
Track record of peer-reviewed publications and effective written and verbal communication with both specialist and cross-functional audiences Hands-on experience with ionic polymer systems such as ionomers, polyelectrolytes, ion gels, polymer networks, and IPMC actuators
Background in polymer synthesis and processing methods to guide manufacturability, formulation, and synthetic feasibility
Hands-on experience with molecular simulation and/or coarse-grained modeling packages (e.g., LAMMPS, OpenMM, ASE, HOOMD) and high throughput simulation
Experience with polymer experimental characterization and failure analysis
Knowledge of LLM-driven automation, high-throughput testing, self-driving laboratory setups
Experience with academic collaborators, industry consortia, and vendor engagement to advance technical goals
Demonstrated history of establishing novel research initiatives and technical programs from initiation
Familiarity with polymer informatics, public soft matter repositories, and machine learning potentials
Working literacy in AI/ML for materials design: practical experience applying ML property prediction, surrogate modeling, or generative design to molecular or polymeric systems
Experience in sensor and actuator technology, including electromechanical transduction, dielectric elastomeric materials, piezoelectric polymers, and soft robotic systems