Postdoctoral Research Associate in Biohybrid Robotics

at  Durham University

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Biohybrid Robotics (Job Number: 25000067)
Department of Computer Science
Grade 7: - £37,999 - £45,163 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 36 months
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 03-Mar-2025, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. A good first degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics or a related subject.
2. A PhD (or be close to submission) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics or a related subject.

EXPERIENCE

1. Strong experience in conducting high quality academic research in robotics, mechatronics and control system in real-world robotic applications.
2. Strong software development background, especially in low-level microcontrollers.
3. Strong experience in programming languages such as C++, Python, MATLAB, etc.
4. Strong experience in robotic programming and simulation using ROS, Gazebo, etc.

SKILLS

1. Demonstrable ability to present research papers at conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.
2. Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals.
3. Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.
4. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

EXPERIENCE

1. Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team.
2. Experience of circuit design with software such as Altium Designer, KiCAD, etc.
3. Previous experience of robotics development for bio-hybrid systems.

THE ROLE

The BioDiMoBot project will deliver a system for autonomous, long-term robotic assessments of aquatic biodiversity and ecology. This project will develop an innovative measurement system to monitor biodiversity and provide insight into the drivers of ecosystem degradation. Additionally, it will assess organismic and environmental stress levels by using novel biohybrid sensors. With the BioDiMoBots’ ability to perform autonomous and automated multimodal long-term data collection, the project will create a user-friendly robotic tool that provides detailed insights into the ecological health of aquatic environments. The project will be driven by the needs of potential stakeholders such as researchers, small and medium-sized enterprises in water-related industries and policy-makers. Field operations will demonstrate the transformative power of the BioDiMoBot systems by monitoring aquatic ecosystems over a long period of time.
This position will ideally suit applicants with an interest in developing robotic systems. The successful applicant will be responsible for hardware (electronics) design, low-level programming and developing controllers, as well as implementation and testing the robotic system and its appropriate frameworks. In addition, some hands on data collection in the bio-hybrid ecosystem must be performed and so applicants must be willing to get involved in experimental work in the field.
Collaboration with our European partners is anticipated, and the successful candidate will be encouraged to adopt a creative approach to problem-solving, exploring various deep learning techniques. Verification of these models and algorithms will be conducted using benchmark datasets and real-world tests in diverse aquatic environments, necessitating a willingness to engage in experimental work for real-world verification with biologists and other stakeholders.
The project is a HORIZON funded collaboration between the University of Durham in the UK, the University of Graz in Austria, Universite Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Italy, SYRION in Austria, Oesterreichische Bundesforste in Austria and Carbon Kapture (Mulroy Bay) Ltd in the UK. This role will involve close collaboration with these external partners. You will be expected to visit several of these institutions in the course of your work and will be based in the Department of Computer Science at Durham University.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the line manager.
• To design and develop novel and cutting-edge deep learning and image processing frameworks for automated species identification and environmental stress assessment, as well as frameworks needed for other similar research.
• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To work with the line manager and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.