Postdoctoral Fellow - Robotics Institute

Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition benefits

Paid time off

Life & disability insurance

Transit pass

Family support services

Fitness center

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join a dynamic team conducting advanced robotics research. You will lead and execute independent and directed projects, publish findings, and contribute to proposal writing while mentoring students.

Responsibilities include aerial robot autonomy, perception-based planning, and learning-based control; you will collaborate with industry and government sponsors on field evaluations and real-system deployments.

Qualifications

• PhD in robotics, computer vision, or AI.
• Experience planning and performing data analysis.
• Excellent publication record in robotics or ML.
• Ability to mentor students and lead projects.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute independent and directed research projects.
• Publish results in leading robotics, computer vision, and ML venues.
• Co-supervise graduate and undergraduate students.
• Collaborate with sponsors and stakeholders on research goals.
• Contribute to grant writing and proposal development.
• Perform system integration and field evaluations.

Skills

Analytical skills

Oral & written communication

Organizational & planning

Problem-solving & reasoning

Team collaboration

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

• 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

• 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.
• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.
• Statement of Assurance