Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is seeking an inaugural Chief Scientific Operations Officer (CSOO) to provide visionary scientific, organizational, and operational leadership for the Biological & Chemical Innovation Cloud Lab (BCICL), a foundational component of the University's AI Science Foundry .
Created at a pivotal moment in the convergence of artificial intelligence, laboratory automation, advanced instrumentation, and scientific discovery, this role represents a unique opportunity to shape an entirely new model for conducting biological and chemical research. The BCICL is being established to transform how experiments are conceived, executed, analyzed, and scaled, enabling researchers to interact with sophisticated laboratory systems through cloud-based infrastructure and AI-driven workflows. As the operational architect of this platform, the CSOO will help define the vision, operating model, and long-term trajectory of a globally significant research capability that is intended to accelerate the pace, reproducibility, and accessibility of science.
The CSOO will be responsible for building and leading the operations of this first-of-its-kind enterprise that bridges disciplines traditionally separated by organizational, technical, and geographic boundaries. Working across AI, robotics, engineering, biology, chemistry, and data science, the role will align diverse teams around a common mission: creating a highly integrated, remotely accessible scientific environment capable of generating novel discoveries at unprecedented speed and scale. Beyond overseeing daily operations, the CSOO will establish the governance frameworks, strategic partnerships, and execution disciplines necessary to ensure the BCICL becomes a trusted and enduring platform for researchers, educators, and innovators. The individual will serve as a critical connector between CMU faculty, university leadership, engineers, technologists, and external collaborators from government, industry, national laboratories, academia, and nonprofit organizations, fostering an ecosystem that amplifies the University's reputation as a leader in AI-enabled science.
Reporting directly to the Vice President for Research and serving as a key member of the AI Science Foundry leadership team, the CSOO will play a central role in advancing CMU's ambition to redefine the future of scientific discovery.
The BCICL is expected to serve as a major node within the National Science Foundation's Programmable Cloud Lab Testbed in support of the Genesis Mission, positioning CMU at the forefront of a national effort to create programmable, autonomous research infrastructure. The impact of this role extends well beyond the boundaries of a single laboratory or institution. The CSOO will have the opportunity to influence how future generations of scientists conduct research, enable breakthrough discoveries across disciplines, democratize access to advanced experimental capabilities, and establish a model for AI-powered scientific innovation that can be adopted by institutions around the world. Few leadership opportunities offer the chance to simultaneously build a new organization, shape an emerging field, and help define the next era of scientific research.
Key Responsibilities
The CSOO will establish and lead the operational organization supporting the BCICL's research, education, partnership, and external-user portfolio. Areas of responsibility will include:
Scientific & Laboratory Operations
Lead laboratory operations across biological, chemical, characterization, analytical, and automated platforms.
Establish operating standards, quality systems, performance metrics, and customer service models.
Oversee technical and operations staffing, instrumentation, scheduling, resource utilization, and continuous improvement.
AI, Automation & Research Infrastructure
Partner with researchers, educators,, roboticists, engineers, and software developers to integrate AI, robotics, automation, and…