Postdoc in Robotics, Autonomy and Manufacturing (2023-224-05330)

The Department of Materials and Production(MP) is a wide-ranging research and educational environment at Aalborg University. The Department's mission is to meet the future's demands for new materials and production systems by directing the whole value chain from basic material understanding, materials' applications in mechanical constructions, industrial production, and management. The department has several strong, international, and innovative research groups which comprise everything from basic science to strategic and applied research. The activities encompass research as well as education within materials, mechanics, physics, production technique, and industrial management and innovation.
Benefitting the industry and additional collaborators several innovative and unconventional collaborations have been and are developed through interdisciplinary co-operations.
Thereby, as an employee at the department, you will become a part of an international research environment, where the focus is on innovation, knowledge sharing/building, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
The Postdoc project is focused on developing an autonomous mobile manipulator for sample handling and transfer in electrochemical processes, aiming to revolutionize closed-loop material discovery for Power2X applications. The project involves designing a 6/7-axis robotic arm and omnidirectional mobile manipulator capable of operating within an electrochemistry laboratory, creating a detailed robot simulation of the laboratory environment, refining algorithms for robot navigation, manipulation, coordination, and AI autonomy, and validating the robot's performance in both simulated and real laboratory environments. Implementing this autonomous robot chemist can enhance the effectiveness and safety of Materials Acceleration Platforms(MAPs).

Material Acceleration Platforms(MAPs) are self-driving laboratories that combine materials science, artificial intelligence, robotics, and advanced computing to autonomously and rapidly design and test new materials. Implementing an autonomous robot chemist can enhance the effectiveness and safety of MAP applications, paving the way for future innovations in laboratory automation and materials discovery while reducing the time and cost required to bring advanced materials to market.

The interdisciplinary research team includes experts from robotics, mechatronics, computer science, and materials science. The project will be conducted in collaboration with other PhDs and postdocs in the CAPeX pioneer center working on MAPs, and colleagues working on the manipulation and assembly of flexible and fragile objects for laboratory automation.

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Is self-driven and good at managing your own time
• Has good problem-solving skills related to laboratory work
• Has good collaborative skills
• Has high academic competencies

The project entails both hardware and software design, implementation and testing. As such, the ideal candidate has strong competencies within:

• ROS1/ROS2
• Python and/or C++ programming
• CAD design
• Robot simulation in tools such as Nvidia Isaac Sim, Gazebo or similar
• Hardware and electrical design
• Git and docker for software revisioning and deployment

Please describe how you fit these personality characteristics and technical skills, preferably with examples demonstrating this. A Good level in oral and written English is required.

Supervision and teaching tasks within the areas of robotics and autonomy can be expected, where a detailed understanding of the Problem Based Learning(PBL) methodology from AAU is required.

You will join the Robotics and Automation Group with several Ph.D. students, postdoc researchers, and professors, which gives excellent opportunities for inspiration, sparring, and academic discussions. We have a friendly and supportive working environment, believing this is the best way to ensure world-class scientific results.

The Postdoc project is part of the new CAPeX Pioneer Center in Denmark. CAPeX is a 13-year and 300 MDKK“Pioneer Center for Accelerating P2X Materials Discovery”, funded by Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the Danish National Research Foundation, the Carlsberg Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and the Villum Foundation. CAPeX is hosted by the Technical University of Denmark(DTU) and co-hosted by Aalborg University(AAU), and unites leading experts from DTU, AAU, University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, and the University of Southern Denmark with international partners from Stanford University, Utrecht University, and the University of Toronto to form a truly Pioneering Center on P2X. You can read more about the CAPeX research themes and X-trails, our organization, and the other open PhD and postdoc cohort positions athttp://www.capex-p2x.com .

When applying, you must indicate if you have also applied for other positions in the 2023 cohort call. When relevant, you are encouraged to do so, and please indicate which positions you have applied for.

You may obtain further professional information about the position from Associate Professor Simon Bøgh,[email protected] ,+45 99403361

Qualification requirements: 

Appointment as Postdoc presupposes scientific qualifications at PhD–level or similar scientific qualifications. The research potential of each applicant will be emphasized in the overall assessment. Appointment as a Postdoc cannot exceed a period of four years in total at Aalborg University.

The application must contain the following:

• A motivated text wherein the reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position are stated.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• Copies of relevant diplomas(Master of Science and PhD). On request you could be asked for an official English translation.
• Scientific qualifications. A complete list of publications must be attached with an indication of the works the applicant wishes to be considered. You may attach up to 5 publications.
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations and the like.
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position. References/recommendations.
• Personal data.

The applications are only to be submitted online by using the"Apply online" button below.

Shortlisting will be applied. After the review of any objections regarding the assessment committee, the head of department, with assistance from the chair of the assessment committee, selects the candidates to be assessed. All applicants will be informed as to whether they will advance to assessment or not.

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

For further information concerning the application procedure please contact Mathilde Vestergaard Nielsen by [email protected] . Information regarding guidelines, ministerial circular in force and procedures can be seenhere.  

Employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities(the Appointment Order) and the Ministry of Finance's current Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement for state-employed academics.