Postdoctoral Researcher in Biomechanics and Robotics: Show me your muscles

Are you interested in conducting research at the intersection of biomechanics, mechatronics and robotics to develop tools and methods for the accurate personalization of musculskeletal models? If so, the department of Biomechanics and the department of Cognitive Robotics at TU Delft wants you to help us develop systems for the automated estimation and scaling of upper limb muscle tissue. Our goal is to incorporate such a system into novel healthcare applications such as assistive and rehabilitative robotics for customized patient care and clinician assistance. We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious postdoctoral researcher to develop the next generation of biomechanical perception technology and to evaluate the performance of this system through experimentation and simulation. The research will be conducted under the supervision of Dr. Eline van der Kruk and Dr. J. Micah Prendergast where you will combine knowledge of computational biomechanics, machine learning and mechatronic design to:

• Develop an advanced machine learning model for estimating muscle properties from 3D scan data, and system identification techniques.
• Develop a mechatronic system for conducting system experiments on upperlimb muscles.
• Develop a video-based muscle activation estimation system for upper-limb rehabilitation exercises.     

Requirements:

• an PhD (or equivalent) in mechanical engineering, biomechanics, robotics, mechatronics, computer science, or related field by the start date.
• demonstrate interest in human biomechanics and application of robotics in healthcare and rehabilitation.
• proficiency in C++ and Python programming and experience developing real-time applications.
• experience in muscuoskeletal modeling and simulation software such as OpenSim.
• experience with computer vision in real-time applications is a plus.
• excellent written and verbal English communication skills.

Attributes we are looking for:

• Curiosity driven person with a ‘can learn anything’ mentality.
• Independent thinker with a critical attitude.
• Initiative taker.
• Enthusiasm toward human experiments.

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 12 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 3mE faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

3mE 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 3mE’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, Maritime and Materials Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos  will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

For information about this vacancy and the selection procedure, please contact Dr. J. Micah Prendergast, Assistant Professor, email: [email protected] or Dr. E. van der Kruk, Assistant Professor, email: [email protected] .

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply by February 7th, 2024 via the application button and upload:

• an up-to-date, detailed curriculum vitae (CV),
• a letter of motivation, and
• transcripts from a MSc program
• 2 reference persons, and
• (if applicable) 1 most relevant publication

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

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

Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.