Postdoctoral Associate - Control/Sim/RL

Drexel University; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 60,240 - 90,350; Full time

Job summary

Drexel University is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics to advance modeling and control strategies for multi-limbed underwater robots. You will develop high-fidelity dynamic models and implement controllers for bio-inspired platforms, collaborating with experimental systems to assess performance under realistic conditions.

The role includes supervising student researchers, contributing to proposals and publications, and engaging in dissemination at

Qualifications

• PhD or Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 0–3 years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise undergraduate and graduate student research related to underwater bio-robotic swimmers, providing guidance on modeling, control development, and experimental validation.
• Contribute to the preparation of research proposals, present findings at conferences and technical meetings, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Python

MATLAB

Reinforcement learning

Robotics control

CAD familiarity

ROS/ROS2 familiarity

Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

MuJoCo

Simscape

ROS2

Job description

Postdoctoral Associate - Control/Sim/RL

Job no: 507049

Work type: Full-Time

Location: University City - Philadelphia, PA

Categories: Drexel University, College of Computing and Informatics, College of Engineering

Job Summary

A postdoctoral position in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics is being offered to support research in bio-inspired underwater robotics, with a focus on the development of advanced modeling and control strategies for multi-limbed swimming systems.

Primary responsibilities include the development of high-fidelity dynamic models of swimming robots, incorporating hydrodynamic and hydrostatic effects, and the design and implementation of control strategies for bio-inspired robotic platforms. The postdoctoral researcher will work closely with experimental underwater robotic systems and contribute to improving the understanding and performance of these systems under realistic operating conditions.

This position is grant-funded; employment is contingent upon the continued availability of those funds.

Essential Functions

• Supervise undergraduate and graduate student research related to underwater bio-robotic swimmers, providing guidance on modeling, control development, and experimental validation.
• Contribute to the preparation of research proposals, present findings at conferences and technical meetings, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a PhD or Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering or related field or the equivalent combination of education and work experience (Please review the Equivalency Chart for additional information).
• Minimum of 0-3 years of experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in high-fidelity dynamic simulation (e.g., MuJoCo, Simscape), with emphasis on underwater or fluid-interacting systems.
• Proficiency in Python and MATLAB for control development and data analysis.
• Experience applying reinforcement learning to control of nonlinear, multi-DoF robotic systems, particularly in locomotion or underwater contexts.
• Familiarity with CAD and hardware-simulation integration workflows.
• Experience with robotic hardware and sensing systems is desirable.
• Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 is a plus.

Physical Demands

• Typically sitting at a desk/table
• Typically standing, walking

Location

• University City - Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information

This position is classified as Exempt, grade K. Compensation for this grade ranges from $60,240.00 - $90,350.00 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position will vary based on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.

Applicants are encouraged to explore the Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on Drexel's compensation framework. For information about benefits, please review Drexel's Benefits Brochure.