Current Opportunities at Vanderbilt

The Wicked Problems Lab (wickedproblemslab.com) at the Vanderbilt University Institute of National Security invites applications for an Artificial Intelligence Postdoctoral Fellow focused on high-impact challenges at the intersection of artificial intelligence and national security. The Lab brings together leading researchers, engineers, and operational experts to translate emerging technologies into pragmatic, real-world solutions. Work from the Wicked Problems Lab has been featured on the front page of The New York Times and has informed U.S. Congressional testimony.

The Artificial Intelligence Postdoctoral Fellow will serve as a critical contributor within the Lab, advancing research and development in agentic AI frameworks, large-scale data systems, and AI-driven analytic tools for national security applications. This position is deeply technical, focusing on building, testing, and optimizing systems that integrate diverse APIs, large language models (LLMs), and data pipelines to support adaptive, mission-critical workflows.

The Fellow will be mentored by Dr. Jesse Spencer-Smith, Chief Data Scientist and Director for the Data Science Institute at Vanderbilt University, and Professor of the Practice of Computer Science. The Fellow will also work closely with Brett Goldstein, Research Professor of Engineering, Special Advisor to the Chancellor for National Security, and former Director of the Defense Digital Service at the Pentagon. Through this collaboration, the Fellow will gain unique exposure to operational datasets, real-time experimentation, and applied research shaping the future of AI in defense and national resilience.

Key Responsibilities:
• Design, develop, and deploy agentic AI systems that coordinate multiple APIs, models, and data sources.
• Build and optimize AI frameworks for dynamic reasoning, data extraction, and decision support.
• Conduct applied research in generative and multimodal AI, including model alignment and evaluation.
• Implement scalable data pipelines and architectures to support real-time experimentation.
• Publish technical findings and contribute to open-source or government-sponsored research initiatives.
Preferred Technical Expertise:
• Strong knowledge of large language models (LLMs) and experience with model integration and fine-tuning.
• Proficiency in Python and familiarity with modern AI frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, LangChain, Hugging Face).
• Experience designing and orchestrating agentic or multi-model AI workflows.
• Background in generative AI, machine learning infrastructure, or data engineering.
• Applied experience in API integration, cloud computing, or containerized deployment environments.
Qualifications:
• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or a related technical field (completed or near completion).
• Demonstrated experience in AI systems, ML infrastructure, or generative model development.
• Strong record of technical research, publications, or open-source contributions.
• Ability to execute complex technical projects and communicate results effectively.

Applications should include a CV, brief description of research experience and interests, list of publications and three references submitted electronically to Megan Pask at megan.pask@vanderbilt.edu. U.S. citizenship is required for this position. For full consideration, applications should be completed by December 8, 2025. Additional applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled. The position is for two years, renewable for up to three years. 

Contact: Megan Pask (megan.pask@vanderbilt.edu)