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AsteraAsteraEmeryville, CA

Research Scientist/Engineer

Conducts fundamental research on brain-inspired world models and AGI architectures, designing experiments on cognition, causal representations, and unsupervised learning. Collaborates with neuroscientists and engineers; requires PhD-level expertise in deep learning frameworks like PyTorch/JAX.

150k – 300k/yr
HybridAI Research

About the role

Core Responsibilities

  • Fundamental research on brain-like world models: Develop and implement new architectures and learning algorithms for neuroscience-based world models. Draw upon insights from deep learning, causality, probabilistic and energy based models, and biologically inspired architectures.
  • Scientific Discovery: Design experiments to test hypotheses regarding high-level cognition, causal representations, sensory-motor integration, active inference, and unsupervised learning.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work alongside neuroscientists and software engineers to translate abstract mathematical frameworks into scalable systems.
  • Contribute to open science: Help innovate new publication models that incentivize speedy dissemination, open source code releases, free open access, and impact measurements based on uptake.

Desired Qualifications

  • Technical Depth: Preferred: PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Neuroscience, Physics, or a related quantitative field. Open to exceptional candidates with non-traditional educational histories.
  • Theoretical Rigor: Strong foundations in deep learning, graphical models, and information theory.
  • Coding Proficiency: Expert-level skills in deep learning frameworks (PyTorch/JAX), with a focus on clean, reproducible research code.
  • AGI Mindset: Demonstrated interest in the "big questions" of AI—robustness, generalization, and common-sense reasoning.
  • Curious about the brain: A genuine passion for exploring the computational and architectural principles of the mammalian brain.
  • Startup DNA: Ability to thrive in a lean, fast-paced environment where you have high autonomy and a direct influence on research direction.

Skills

PyTorchJAXDeep LearningGraphical ModelsInformation TheoryCausalityProbabilistic ModelsEnergy-Based ModelsNeuroscienceActive Inference

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