About the position
The Postdoctoral Research Associate will play a crucial role in evaluating and developing robotic solutions aimed at extending the independence of seniors living in their homes. This position focuses on creating innovative methods to assist with daily living tasks, which include chores, personal care, and mobility support. The research will involve designing experiments to assess the effectiveness of robotic manipulators in real-world scenarios, ensuring that the solutions developed are both practical and beneficial for the target demographic. In this role, the Postdoctoral Research Associate will be responsible for generating instrumentation solutions that quantify the effectiveness of robotic tasks. This includes conducting human subject studies to evaluate the assistance provided by robots, performing user need assessments, and engaging in biomechanical simulations. The position also requires the preparation of manuscripts for publication, contributing to the academic community and sharing findings with a broader audience. The successful candidate will work closely with Principal Investigators to determine specific duties based on their skills and the needs of ongoing projects. This may involve leading the development of Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols and ensuring compliance with ethical standards. Strong interpersonal skills are essential, as the Postdoctoral Research Associate will serve as the primary contact for subject candidates, facilitating communication and coordination throughout the research process.
Responsibilities
- Designing and conducting experiments to evaluate robotic manipulators in activities of daily living
- Generating instrumentation solutions for quantifying robotic task effectiveness
- Designing and conducting human subject studies to evaluate robot assistance
- Conducting user need assessments
- Conducting biomechanical simulation
- Preparing manuscripts for publication
Requirements
- Strong programming skills
- Demonstrated publication record in robotics, biomechanics, or related field
- Ability to multi-task efficiently in a fast-paced environment
- Drive projects to completion and act with a sense of urgency
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
- Ability to conduct experiments with real-world robotic hardware
- Doctoral degree required
- Dissertation in Robotics, Autonomy, Biomechanics, or related field
Nice-to-haves
- Programming in the Robotic Operating System (ROS)
- Motion capture (e.g. Vicon, Optitrack)
- Biomechanical Simulation (e.g. OpenSim)
- Multibody Mechanics simulations (e.g. Gazebo, MuJoCo)
- Running human subjects studies
- Operating a robotic manipulator (e.g. Universal Robotics, Kuka)
