IPAI expands campus engagement with new postdoc program and Faculty Affiliates Network

Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every academic discipline and industry. At Purdue, the Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) is harnessing the university’s full research breadth to lead in this critical area.

This spring, IPAI launched two major initiatives to deepen campus engagement: a new faculty affiliates program and the continuation of its flagship postdoctoral research fellows program. IPAI also recently welcomed Aaron Walz as deputy director. In this role, Walz will help lead strategic initiatives and operational execution across the institute, working closely with director Ananth Grama.

“IPAI drives our bold, interdisciplinary research that defines Purdue’s innovation via the marriage of AI and its applications to the physical world,” says Dan DeLaurentis, executive vice president for research. “External stakeholders continue to respond with excitement to this vision, and this motivates our investment in faculty and emerging talent through programs like the postdoctoral fellows initiative. This human talent is essential to realize the positive benefits brought by the AI transformation.”

Faculty Affiliates Program

The IPAI Faculty Affiliates Program invites Purdue faculty and researchers with interests in AI to formally engage with the institute. More than 100 affiliates have already joined, representing a wide range of disciplines from foundational AI research to applied domains like agriculture, life sciences and manufacturing. Affiliates gain access to a variety of benefits, including eligibility to supervise researchers as part of IPAI’s postdoctoral program, access to the Gautschi-AI compute platform, support for proposal development and team building, and opportunities to engage with external stakeholders. Most importantly, affiliates become part of a growing campus AI community collaborating across disciplines, connecting with partner centers and helping shape new initiatives. Faculty and researchers interested in joining can learn more and sign up via the IPAI website.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows Program

Now in its second round, the IPAI Postdoctoral Research Fellows Program — funded through generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc. — aims to train the next generation of leaders in physical AI. The program supports interdisciplinary research that applies AI to domains such as materials, semiconductors, quantum systems, urban infrastructure, life sciences and robotics.

Fellows receive two years of full-time funding (with an optional third year), an annual salary, and support for research and professional development. Fellows are expected to pursue independent research that can lead to major funding, scientific breakthroughs and leadership in their field.

Applications are open through Oct. 1. Current Purdue PhD students in their final year and faculty planning to hire a postdoc in this area are eligible to apply. More information is available on the IPAI website.

About the Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence at Purdue University:

The Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) is a signature institute of Purdue University and a cornerstone of the Purdue Computes initiative. Funded through generous support from Lilly Endowment, IPAI brings together more than 100 affiliated faculty and over 30 research centers to advance the foundations and applications of AI across sectors such as semiconductors, manufacturing, agriculture, life sciences and quantum systems. IPAI supports this work through state-of-the-art facilities, industry and federal partnerships, and a strong emphasis on ethical and socially responsible AI. Learn more at https://www.purdue.edu/computes/institute-for-physical-artificial-intelligence/ 

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.