Research Associate in the Sensorimotor Augmentation for Human-Robot Collaboration

We are looking for a full-time post-doctoral research associate to investigate human-robot collaboration to explore unstructured environments for inspection, repair, and maintenance. You will conduct research on designing artificial feedback to humans, whether they are remotely operating a robot or collaborating closely with one in a proximal setting. The robot’s perception about surroundings through multi-sensory feedback will be transmitted naturally to human operators to augment their situational awareness and facilitate their motor control. You will work with physical robot platforms and develop a feedback interface integrating human natural sensory and robot’s artificial information. This will encompass mechatronics design, system integration, robotic control, computer vision algorithms, and conducting user studies. You will be expected to publish at world-leading refereed conferences and journals, and demonstrate research outcomes on real robot platforms.

The role will also require regular contributions to a variety of academic tasks, including positively interacting and communicating with internal and external stakeholders, developing research proposals, management of research projects, supervising PhD, Master and undergraduate students, demonstrating research excellence and leadership to more junior members in the research lab.

Key Responsibilities

Main Duties:

• Develop feedback interface to transmit useful information that is beyond human natural sensory channels.
• Design robot environment perception algorithms with multi-sensory feedback.
• Investigate optimal form of sensory feedback for human-robot collaborative exploration of unstructured environments.  
• Develop robotic navigation and control algorithms.
• Implement algorithms into robotic systems for real-time execution.
• Work on the project deliverables through independent research and joint collaboration.
• Publish at world-leading refereed conferences and journals.
• Actively participate in the research programme of the Lab.
• Conduct and plan own scientific work proactively with appropriate supervision.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of all findings and experimental work, and full backup of research resources in the Lab facilities.

Other Duties:

• Direct the work of small research teams.
• Ensure the validity and reliability of research results and data.
• Write reports for submission to stakeholders.
• Present findings to colleagues and at relevant workshops and conferences as necessary.
• Develop contacts and research collaborations within the University and the international partners.
• Assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students and other lab members as required.
• Contribute to bids for research grants.
• Participate in Lab research meetings and internal seminars.
• Undertake any necessary training, safety courses and/or development.
• Undertake appropriate administration tasks.
• Contribute to the smooth running of the Lab’s facilities with other researchers, technicians and students.

Location and Facility: 

The successful applicant will join in The University of Manchester’s team at RAICo One Facility in West Cumbria. The applicant will have a unique opportunity to work in close partnership with robotics, control and AI experts from the University of Manchester, Sellafield Ltd and the UK Atomic Energy Authority, applying their knowledge and research work into real applications. RAICo One is a fully equipped robotics laboratory with state-of-the-art robotic research and development facilities including a wide range of robotic systems and robot test arenas.

This post is offered on a 2-year fixed-term appointment with potential extension.

The closing date for applications is: 11/11/2024

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Dr. Xiaoxiao Cheng

Email: xiaoxiao.cheng@manchester.ac.uk

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