Research Fellow, AI & ML

About Foray

Foray is dedicated to protecting and restoring natural ecosystems through biomanufacturing. Today, nearly 40% of plant species are threatened with extinction and conventional methods of plant sourcing exacerbate declines in acreage and biodiversity. Growing plant cells rather than whole plants, Foray’s plant cell culture platform reengineers access to critical plant products, offering harvest-free molecules, materials, and seeds. Foray extends plant cell culture to species and applications that are traditionally out of reach thanks to a platform powered by novel computational insights. Foray's no-harvest solution addresses the urgent need to combat biodiversity loss and ecological degradation, ensuring the continued availability of essential plant-based resources.

About the Role

We are seeking a Research Fellow to join our team for 4-6 months focused on leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to advance plant cell culture R&D. The fellowship is a unique opportunity for current Master's or PhD students, graduates, or postdocs interested in applying advanced techniques to solve real-world problems in plant science and climate technology. Fellows will gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced, mission-driven startup environment, working at the intersection of biology, engineering, and computation. The fellowship focuses on data-driven innovation in plant cell culture, offering fellows the chance to contribute to cutting-edge research and influence the future of sustainable biomanufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement data-driven models to enhance plant cell culture processes, including predictive algorithms and optimization frameworks.

• Analyze large datasets generated from plant cell culture experiments and extract actionable insights.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across biology, engineering, and computation to design experiments and validate data models.

• Advance tools for monitoring plant culture performance.

• Create prototypes for novel projects relating to image analysis, agents for doing science, design of experiments interfaces, and beyond.

Qualifications

• Current enrollment in, or recent completion of, a Master’s or PhD program in AI, ML, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Data Science or a related discipline.

• Proficiency in Python or a comparable programming language, with experience in data analysis, machine learning, and data visualization.

• Strong analytical skills with a background in statistics and data modeling.

• Familiarity with biological data and an interest in plant science applications.

• Excellent problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a cross-functional team.

Skills & Attributes

• Experience with cloud-based platforms and workflow automation tools.

• Expertise in designing experiments, conducting statistical analysis, and managing data.

• Nice-to-have: Previous experience in a startup or fast-paced R&D environment.

• Nice-to-have: A track record of presenting research findings or contributing to publications.

• Nice-to-have: Knowledge of plant biology, bioprocessing, or metabolic engineering.

• Nice-to-have: Experience with genomics, pangenomics, or other omics methods.

Fellowship Details

• 4-6 months, starting between May - July 2025

• Hourly rate commensurate with experience ($20-$30/hour)

• Location: Cambridge, MA

Foray deeply values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants equally for employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.