Founding Heads of R&D Laboratories

Founding Heads of R&D Laboratories in Turin  AI4I is seeking talented and ambitious AI researchers to establish and lead new R&D Laboratories at the intersection of frontier artificial intelligence and industrial transformation. Founding Heads will define the scientific direction of their Laboratory, build internationally competitive research teams, develop reusable AI assets, attract competitive and industrial funding, and translate research excellence into technological and industrial impact.
The call is open across foundational AI methods, enabling technologies and application-driven domains, with particular interest in areas including.
industrial optimization and decision systems
domain foundation models and multimodal AI
agentic AI for cyber-physical systems
efficient embodied AI
AI for materials discovery
digital twins and scientific-industrial simulation
cognitive security
multi-agent systems
human-centered AI
Candidates should have a strong track record in AI research and development, experience leading complex multidisciplinary R&D programs, and the ability to work across academic, industrial and institutional environments. A PhD and previous leadership of a research group, laboratory, major project or multidisciplinary program are preferred.
The position offers a renewable four-year appointment, competitive compensation, a start-up grant, access to advanced computing and engineering infrastructure, and the opportunity to recruit and shape an international research team.