Research Associate

The University of Edinburgh; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in the UK is seeking two Postdoctoral Research Associates for funded positions in SLAM and large-scale graph optimisation. The roles require a PhD in Robotics, Computer Science or Mathematics, along with strong programming skills in C++ and/or Python. Successful candidates will contribute to innovative research alongside Dr Liang Zhao. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits in a vibrant academic environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous holiday entitlement

Comprehensive pension schemes

Staff discounts

Family-friendly initiatives

Qualifications

• PhD in Robotics, Computer Science or Mathematics required.
• Strong background in robotics, computer vision, optimisation, or applied mathematics needed.
• Excellent programming skills in C++ and/or Python and ROS are essential.

Skills

PhD in Robotics, Computer Science or Mathematics

Strong background in robotics, computer vision, optimisation, or applied mathematics

Excellent programming skills in C++ and/or Python and ROS

Experience delivering research results in top robotics conferences and journals

Capability to plan, prioritise, and deliver technical milestones

Education

PhD in relevant field

Job description

Grade UE07: £41,064- £48,822

College of Science & Engineering, School of Informatics

Full Time: 35 hours per week

Fixed Term: 24 months

The Opportunity

The School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh invites applications for two Postdoctoral Research Associate positions in SLAM and large-scale graph optimisation.

We are pleased to announce multiple funded positions in the areas of SLAM, large-scale graph optimisation, and multi-modal robotic perception at School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, UK. These positions are part of a new research programme led by Dr Liang Zhao focusing on next‑generation estimation and optimisation techniques for large-scale graph optimisation problems and intelligent robotic perception.

This post is advertised as full‑time (35 hours per week), fixed term until 31st December 2027. The team currently operates a 100%, i.e. 5 days, on‑campus working arrangement which has been agreed by the line manager.

The salary for this post is £41,064 to £48,822 per annum.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• PhD in Robotics, Computer Science or Mathematics
• A strong background in robotics, computer vision, optimisation, or applied mathematics
• Excellent programming skills in C++ and/or Python and ROS
• Experience in delivering research results in an academic context; e.g. at top robotics conferences and journals
• Demonstrated capability to plan, prioritise, and deliver technical milestones within agreed project schedules.

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Application Information

Please ensure you include the following documents in your application:

• CV
• Cover letter

As a valued member of our team you can expect:

• A competitive salary
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family‑friendly initiatives. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits

Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 19th January 2026.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

Interview dates to be confirmed.