Postdoctoral Fellow - Robotics Institute

Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition benefits

Paid time off

Transit bus pass

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate role in Pittsburgh. The selected candidate will perform advanced independent or directed research across aerial robotics, perception, planning, and learning-based approaches, with emphasis on real-system deployment and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities include leading projects, publishing in premier venues, supervising students, and contributing to proposals and sponsor

Qualifications

• Doctorate degree in a relevant field with strong research experience.
• Ability to lead independent or directed research projects.
• Experience publishing in robotics, computer vision, or ML venues.

Responsibilities

• Lead research projects within one of the focus areas.
• Publish results in top robotics venues and write reports.
• Co-supervise graduate and undergraduate students.
• Assist in grant writing and proposal development.
• Engage with sponsors and present results to stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical skills

Oral & written communication

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Leadership potential

Education

Doctorate Degree

Job description

Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute is searching for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join their team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in an interesting and challenging work environment.

We are seeking creative and energetic Postdoctoral Research Associate that will carry out advanced independent and/or directed research to achieve the objectives of the research project. This position will require an in depth knowledge of a specialized field, process, or discipline and may involve organizing and implementing complex research plans, the development of methods of research, testing and data collection, analysis and evaluation, and writing reports which contain descriptive, analytical and evaluative content. The purpose of this role is to acquire the professional skills needed to pursue a career path of his or her choosing.

Responsibilities

Function 1

• Aerial Robot Autonomy

Single- And Multi-robot Decision-making And Planning, Including

• Low-altitude flight using monocular vision.
• Perception-aware navigation in GPS-denied environments.
• Coordinating heterogeneous teams of aerial and ground robots.
• Perception-based multi-robot coordination and task allocation.
• Long-horizon and safety-aware planning under uncertainty.

Function 2

• Learning-Based Perception and Control

Multi-modal And Foundation-model-based Approaches For Robotics, Including

• Multi-modal mapping and semantic perception.
• Action policy learning and embodied intelligence.
• Learning foundation models for semantic, depth, and state estimation (e.g., similar in spirit to MapAnything).
• Latent-space representations for decision-making and control of aerial robots, ground vehicles, quadrupeds, and humanoids.
• We are particularly interested in candidates who can bridge algorithmic innovation with real-system deployment, and leadership skills.

Function 3

Postdoctoral Researchers Are Expected To

• Lead research projects within one of the focus areas above.
• Publish in leading robotics, computer vision, and machine learning venues.
• Contribute to proposal development and sponsor reporting.
• Co-supervise graduate and undergraduate students.
• Present research results to academic, industrial, and government stakeholders
• Participate in system integration and real-world field evaluations.
• AirLab conducts frequent field experiments and works closely with corporate and government sponsors. Our projects involve rapid research-to-deployment cycles, requiring both scientific rigor and strong engineering execution.
• Collect and analyze data, including periodical/literature search and utilizing specialized skills in related field to analyze the collected data.
• Conduct research experiments within the predetermined research scope and methodology of department and university.
• Lab maintenance, including equipment maintenance and ordering of supplies may be required depending on area and specialty.
• Participate/assist in manuscript writing for publication in scientific journals and/or presentations. May also assist in grant writing.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Doctorate Degree
• Strong Analytical Skills
• Strong Oral and Written Communication Skills
• Strong Organizational and Planning Skills
• Strong Problem-Solving and Reasoning Skills
• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.

Benefits

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Pre/Post-Doctoral Associates & Fellows

Position Type

Postdoctoral Associate / Fellow (Fixed Term)

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.
• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits
• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.
• Statement of Assurance