Postdoctoral Fellowship – AI and Machine Learning for Infectious Disease Modeling

The Lau Lab in the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at Emory University is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to conduct research at the intersection of statistical modeling, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and infectious disease epidemiology.

The fellow will develop and apply novel statistical, mathematical, computational, and machine learning methods, with particular emphasis on deep learning and modern AI approaches, to improve our understanding, inference, and prediction of infectious disease dynamics. Potential research areas include epidemic forecasting, deep learning–based simulation-based inference, generative and foundation models for epidemiology, phylodynamics, and integration of heterogeneous surveillance data.
Projects are strongly grounded in real-world public health applications, including pandemic preparedness, outbreak forecasting, infectious disease surveillance, and data-driven public health decision-making. The fellow will have substantial opportunities to develop independent research directions and lead high-impact methodological and applied publications.

Position Details
• Start date: Spring-Summer 2027 preferred; timing is flexible for an exceptional candidate
• Initial term: 1 year, with the expectation of renewal based on performance, mutual fit, and funding
• Location: Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Qualifications
• PhD in statistics, biostatistics, computer science, applied mathematics, physics, artificial intelligence, or another closely related quantitative field
• Strong interest in applying quantitative and computational methods to infectious disease epidemiology
• Strong background in statistical/mathematical modeling, machine learning, or computational methods
• Experience with deep learning, probabilistic modeling, scientific machine learning, or related modern AI methods is particularly desirable
• Strong interest in interdisciplinary research
• Proficiency in Python and R; experience with additional scientific computing frameworks is desirable
• Strong research record and evidence of growing independence.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Candidates are not expected to have prior experience in every area listed above. Applicants with particularly strong methodological or computational backgrounds who are genuinely interested in applying their expertise to infectious disease problems are encouraged to apply.

Research Environment
The Lau Lab provides a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment spanning biostatistics, epidemiology, computer science, and infectious disease dynamics. The fellow will work closely with Dr. Max Lau and will have opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers at Emory from Computer Science, Epidemiology and Biology.
Postdoctoral fellows will receive strong support for professional development, including conference travel, interdisciplinary collaborations, development of independent research programs, and publication in leading methodological and scientific journals.

Application Instructions
Interested applicants should apply through the Emory portal: https://faculty-emory.icims.com/jobs/175572/job
Please include:
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Statement of research interests
• Contact information for two references. Reference letters will be requested from candidates selected for interview.
Questions may be directed to Dr. Max Lau at msy.lau@emory.edu.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.