Postdoc in Meaningful Human Control for Human-Robot Collaboration

Delft University of Technology; Delft; On-site; EUR 41,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Delft University of Technology invites applications for a postdoctoral position in Meaningful Human Control for Human-Robot Collaboration. The role focuses on developing AI-enabled robotic systems and advancing human-centered, trustworthy AI in robotics within the EU-funded OPERA project.

The postdoc will explore interaction between humans and robots to ensure transparent, responsible decision-making, combining AI, robotics, and cognitive/social sciences across real-world settings.

Qualifications

• PhD degree or progress toward PhD by joining the project
• Interest in AI, human-robot interaction and socio-technical aspects
• Interdisciplinary research experience welcomed

Responsibilities

• Develop AI-enabled robotic systems for human-robot collaboration
• Investigate how robots interact with humans to enable transparent, trustworthy, safe and reliable decisions
• Evaluate methods in real-world multi-stakeholder scenarios within the OPERA project

Job description

Join TU Delft as a postodoc to develop AI-enable robotic systems for responsible human-robot collaboration. The role is Postdoc in Meaningful Human Control for Human-Robot Collaboration.

• Salary range: €3706 - €5760
• Hours per week: 32-40
• FTE: 0.8 - 1.0

Job description

Autonomous robots working in human-centered environments must do more than react to immediate sensor input. They need to be able to estimate uncertainty, explain their decisions, adapt to human preferences and values, and act safely and reliably in changing conditions. In the EU-funded OPERA project, TU Delft contributes to General-Purpose AI for robotics by developing methods that combine fast System 1-style behavior with more deliberate System 2-style reasoning, adaptation, and decision-making.

In this postdoc position, you will investigate how robots can interact with humans to make transparent, trustworthy, safe and reliable decisions. The research combines AI, robotics, and cognitive and social sciences to develop human-robot collaboration that supports meaningful human control, enabling humans to understand, influence and take responsibility for the system’s behavior.

The developed methods will be evaluated in real-world multi-stakeholder scenarios, integrating data-driven approaches such as inverse reinforcement learning and imitation learning with cognitive and socio-technical models. The research will also contribute to the development of a broader ethical and governance frameworks for ethical human-robot interaction, addressing fairness, bias, privacy, safety, and oversight to support trustworthy and responsible AI-enabled robotic systems.

Job requirements

We are looking for applicants who have or expect to receive a PhD degree before joining the project. This positions welcomes applicants from different technical backgrounds. For example, you have expertise in AI with an interest in developing models that can identify and align to complex social contexts; you have a focus on human-robot interaction addressing methods that empower humans to understand and steer the behavior of these; you have a socio-technical or design background, implementing state-of-the-art AI methods or developing robotics systems towards human-centred applications. If one or more of these areas describe you, we encourage your to apply. We particularly welcome applicants with experience or interest in interdisciplinary research.

This position is for 30 months for a full-time basis. We are open to part-time constructions. We are also happy to support the candidate in grant applications to extend the position.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology 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.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives, including AI. There is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 1 year with prospect of another 1,5 year.
• A job of 32-40 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed.

#EUfunded This is an EU funded project, named #OPERA, within program Horizon Europe.