Term)
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 1 year.
Applications are invited for a Research Associate (PostDoc) or Research Assistant (RA) to join the Prorok Lab in the Department of Computer Science and Technology, at the University of Cambridge, UK.
The Research Associate / Research Assistant will work together with a team of students and research collaborators on the development of learning-based control policies that facilitate the coordination of large-scale robot systems (ground and aerial). The ideal candidate will possess hands-on experience with designing and implementing reinforcement learning algorithms, and deploying them onto real robots. They will be working with a team composed of PhD students, Research Assistants and Postdocs that is developing novel multi- robot architectures for practical, real-world settings. Current solutions to many of the coordination challenges use simplifying assumptions and simulated operational environments to achieve success. Our team is pushing these assumptions to their limits, with the aim to break the barrier to real-world and outdoor deployments with large robot teams. As a result, we need to design systems and algorithms that are robust and resilient, while also offering scalability to larger swarms and highly dynamic environments. The RA will also lead in-field testing and deployments. Therefore, we require someone with excellent implementation skills, and substantial experience with real robot deployments.
The Prorok Lab in the Dept. of Computer Science & Technology, has a variety of robotic platforms (aerial and ground), and boasts expertise in controlling and deploying them in practice, as well as in designing coordination strategies for them. Our recent work on RL and graph neural networks (GNNs) demonstrate some of our key research directions relevant for this position. A high degree of self-motivation, research-oriented thinking, and a drive for getting real robotic systems up and running are all essential traits for this position.
Applicants should contact Prof Amanda Prorok for further information. https:// www. proroklab.org
Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.
The Department of Computer Science and Technology is an academic department that encompasses computer science along with many aspects of engineering, technology and mathematics. We have a world wide reputation for academic research with consistent top research ratings. The Department has an open and collaborative culture, supporting revolutionary fundamental computer science research, strong cross-cutting collaborations internally and externally, and ideas which transform computing outside the University. Please follow the link at: https: // www. cst.cam.ac.uk to find out more about our Department.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. Please note that we provide the support of applying for the relevant visa (if required) and we reimburse the cost of the first visa.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Required documents include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a brief research statement, and contact information for two references. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.
Please quote reference NR40478 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Further informationDepartment of Computer Science and Technology, West Cambridge
Salary£29,605-£44,263
ReferenceNR40478
CategoryResearch
Published12 February 2024
Closing date21 February 2024