Postdoc Model-based control of Soft Objects and Robots

Contribute to pioneering robotics research in model-based control of deformable mechanical systems by blending advanced theory with solid experimental validations.

We seek a postdoctoral researcher for a project on model-based control of deformable mechanical systems (objects, soft robots). This role involves advancing theoretical models and methods and validating these approaches experimentally - with the ultimate goal of generating a leap forward in the capability of robotic systems to handle complex deformations.

Candidates should have a robust background in control theory, nonlinear dynamics, or machine learning as applied to robotics. Publications in these fields are an advantage.

We aim to offer a platform for researchers to grow in a multidisciplinary and supportive environment. This position will allow you to grow as a researcher, preparing you for different aspects of your next steps in the academic journey. Your responsibility will include coordinating project activities, including supervising master's students and mentoring junior Ph.D. students, ensuring a collaborative and productive research environment. You will have the opportunity to interact with stakeholders in and out of academia and see your developments applied in real-world contexts.

The ideal candidate has the following qualifications. However, please consider submitting

Also if you do not match 100% of the requirements. The ideal candidate does not exist, and no one is perfect.

• Ph.D. degree (awarded or close to completion) in Robotics, Control Theory, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related field.
• Experience with carrying out experimental work.
• Proven experience in autonomously managing professional responsibilities (examples: teaching, research, interaction with third-party stakeholders, grant writing, guiding MSc students).
• Fluent communication skills in English, both written and oral.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (salary indication: € 4.036 - € 5.090 per month gross). The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

This postdoc position has a fixed-term contract of 24 months.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here  to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos  will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply by March 25, 2024 via the application button and upload your motivation and CV.

You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.

Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Cosimo Della Santina, e-mail: [email protected] .

A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.