Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0004857)

Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University seeks a PREP Research Associate to support the NIST PREP program in Gaithersburg, MD. The role focuses on evaluating AI capabilities in autonomous and human-robot interaction systems, advancing testing methods, metrics and verification frameworks.

Responsibilities include conducting state-of-the-art robotics and AI research, applying deep learning, LLMs, reinforcement learning, and probabilistic methods, developing benchmarks, digital twins, and testbeds, and

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent experience in natural sciences, engineering, or related fields.
• Innovative thinking and strong experimental skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Prior hands-on experience in micro-/nanofabrication; integrated photonics design and characterization; PIC design; numerical simulations; device-level metrology.

Responsibilities

• Conduct state-of-the-art measurement science research in robotics, advanced autonomy, and AI systems.
• Apply deep learning, LLMs, reinforcement learning, and unsupervised ML to enhance robot capabilities and decision-making.
• Develop verification methods, transparent evaluation frameworks, and performance metrics for inspectable robotic AI systems.
• Implement advanced filtering and symbolic spatial relation models to optimize tracking, navigation, and behavior classification.

Skills

Deep learning

Experimentation

Independent work

Communication

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent

Tools

3D rendering

CAD

Sensor fusion tools

Job description

PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields. Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration's scientific research.

Research Title: Performance Evaluation of AI Capabilities in Autonomous and Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Systems

The work will entail: To support the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Measurement Science for Manufacturing Robotics and Autonomous Systems (MSRAS) Program. The focus of this role is to advance standard test methods, metrics, and evaluation tools for artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced autonomy within human-robot environments, ensuring these systems operate with transparent, verifiable, and securely integrated decision‑making frameworks.

U.S. Citizen Preferred

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Conducting state‑of‑the‑art measurement science research in robotics, advanced autonomy, and artificial intelligence systems.
• Utilizing deep learning, large language models (LLMs), reinforcement learning, and unsupervised machine learning techniques to enhance robot capabilities, human objective prediction, and decision‑making architectures.
• Developing verification methods, transparent evaluation frameworks, and performance metrics to ensure robotic AI systems and automated sorting or ranking methodologies are inspectable and risk‑aware.
• Implementing advanced filtering techniques and symbolic spatial relation models to optimize tracking, navigation, and behavioral classification in highly dynamic environments.
• Programming, simulating, and validating physical and simulated autonomous systems using a variety of modern software, libraries, and probabilistic frameworks.
• Helping develop standards, benchmark scenarios, and performance metrics for human‑robot interaction (HRI), autonomous systems, and cooperative robotics integrated into complex environments.
• Developing test apparatuses, digital twins, and virtual/physical testbeds using 3D rendering, CAD, and sensor fusion tools to validate repeatability and reproducibility.
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to design and optimize systems while publishing peer‑reviewed research results in high‑impact journals and international conferences.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or equivalent experience in natural sciences, engineering, or related fields.
• Innovative thinking and strong experimental skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Prior hands‑on experience in one or more of the following areas: micro‑/nanofabrication; integrated photonics design and characterization; PIC design; numerical simulations; device‑level metrology.

Other details:

• U.S. citizenship strongly preferred.
• Full‑time (40 hours/week).
• Location: NIST Gaithersburg, Maryland.
• Duration: 1‑year appointment, with possible extension.
• Applications accepted until filled.

Contact: Dr. Nikolai N. Klimov, [e-mail]