Post-Doctoral Associate

Position Description
Dr. Seongjin Choi's research group is looking for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. The successful candidate will conduct advanced research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and intelligent transportation systems (ITS), with an emphasis on developing and deploying state-of-the-art Large-Language Models (LLMs), Vision-Language Models (VLMs), and Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models for real-world problems in urban mobility, transportation management, and autonomous driving. Core research themes include generative AI, multimodal learning, robust data analytics, and interpretable decision-making under real-world constraints.

This is a full-time, 12-month appointment with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability. Salary will commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and responsibilities and will follow University of Minnesota policies. The position includes health insurance and standard postdoctoral benefits in accordance with University guidelines. For more information, see https://policy.umn.edu/hr/postdocappoint

Responsibility
* Lead innovative research on VLM/VLA methods and their applications in autonomous driving and ITS problem.
* Design, implement, and rigorously evaluate novel AI models and algorithms for multimodal inputs.
* Build robust pipelines for data curation, preprocessing, and quality control for noisy, imperfect, and heterogeneous transportation datasets.
* Explore neuro-symbolic and/or constraint-aware approaches to improve safety, transparency, reliability, and interpretability of AI-driven decision-making.
* Publish high-impact results in leading transportation and AI conferences and journals.
* Contribute to grant proposal development and help identify external funding opportunities to support ongoing and new research directions.

This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship.

Minimum Requirements
* Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related quantitative discipline.
* Demonstrated research expertise and strong publication record in Generative AI, VLMs and/or VLA models, and their applications in transportation systems and autonomous driving.
* Strong understanding of generative AI, deep learning, and multimodal machine learning, with hands-on experience.
* Excellent programming skills and proficiency with modern deep learning frameworks.
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and drive research forward.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly present technical concepts and research outcomes.

Preferred Requirements
* Experience with LLM/VLM/VLA fine tuning
* Familiarity with autonomous driving or multi-agent simulation environments (e.g., CARLA). * Domain knowledge in ITS, traffic engineering, autonomous vehicles, robotics, or related areas.
* Experience using cloud platforms for training and deploying AI models.

About the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering (CEGE):

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the United States, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering (CEGE) at the University of Minnesota features state-of-the-art facilities, including the Minnesota Traffic Observatory (MTO) and the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI). MTO is a transportation laboratory focusing on the testing and evaluation of new transportation management and operational strategies and traveler information technologies, where Dr. Choi leads as a co-director. CEGE is one of twelve departments within the College of Science and Engineering, which offers outstanding opportunities for interdisciplinary research due to the unique combination of mathematics, physical sciences, and engineering in one college.

About Dr. Seongjin Choi:

Dr. Seongjin Choi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He is also an affiliated faculty at the Center for Transportation Studies (CTS), Data Science Initiative (DSI), and Minnesota Robotics Institute (MnRI). Dr. Choi received his Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. degrees from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2021, 2017, and 2015, respectively. Prior to joining the University of Minnesota, he was a postdoctoral researcher at McGill University. His research focuses on applications of AI and GenAI for transportation and mobility systems management and operation and connected and autonomous vehicles.

Pay Range: $61,008 - $62,232, depending on education/qualifications/experience

Please visit the Benefits for Postdoctoral Candidates website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training
• Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).