Co-Op, Electron Microscopy

Location: Cambridge, MA USA Department: Autonomous Science Platform

Your Impact at LILA

Lila Sciences is seeking a Co-Op, Electron Microscopy to join the Materials Science team within the Autonomous Science Platform. This co-op supports advanced SEM characterization workflows across powdered materials and thin films, working alongside synthesis, characterization, and ML scientists to turn physical experiments into high-quality data.

The work is hands-on and instrument-heavy: acquiring imaging and compositional data, refining methods, and iterating on protocols that feed Lila's materials discovery platform. It suits a PhD student who wants depth in microstructural analysis and sees how characterization data drives AI-guided materials research.

What You'll Be Building

Design and execute SEM-based characterization workflows across diverse chemistries and form factors

Operate electron microscopy instrumentation under the guidance of staff scientists

Partner with experimental scientists and engineers to optimize protocols and inform downstream analysis

Troubleshoot instrumentation and workflow issues that affect data quality

Capture imaging and analysis results in clear, reusable laboratory records

Follow safety and compliance standards for instrument and sample handling

What You'll Need to Succeed

Currently enrolled in a PhD in Materials Science, Physics, or a related field

Strong background in SEM-based microstructural analysis

Hands-on expertise with EDS, EBSD, and FIB (focused ion beam)

Experience characterizing powdered materials and thin films

Demonstrated ability to operate and troubleshoot advanced SEM systems

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

Bonus Points For

Experience with image analysis tools such as ImageJ or Python-based pipelines

Familiarity with complementary techniques such as XRD or XRF

Interest in automation and integration of microscopy with AI workflows

Prior work characterizing nanoscale defects and interfaces

About LILA

Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ to solve humankind's greatest challenges. We believe science is the most inspiring frontier for AI. Rather than hard-coding expert knowledge into tools, LILA builds systems that can learn for themselves.

LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments into an operating system for science that executes the entire scientific method autonomously, accelerating discovery at unprecedented speed, scale, and impact across medicine, materials, and energy. Learn more at www.lila.ai.

Guided by our core values of truth, trust, curiosity, grit, and velocity, we move with startup speed while tackling problems of historic importance. If this sounds like an environment you'd love to work in, even if you don't meet every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.

We’re All In

Lila Sciences is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Information you provide during your application process will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.

A Note to Agencies

Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.