Postdoctoral Research Associate - Embodied AI Lab Automation: Vision-Guided Real Time Robotic M[...]

Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC; Upton (NY); On-site; USD 71,900 - 119,000; Full time

Job summary

Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC is hiring a Postdoctoral Research Associate to develop an automated protein crystal harvesting system at Brookhaven National Laboratory. This hands-on role will involve building closed-loop perception and robotic control systems, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in a relevant field, strong programming skills in Python and/or C++, and experience with robotics. The position is on-site in Upton, New York, and offers a competitive salary range.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant field with demonstrated robotics systems experience.
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or C++.
• Knowledge of robot kinematics and calibration methods.

Responsibilities

• Develop vision-guided robotic manipulation methods for crystal harvesting.
• Design closed-loop perception and control systems.
• Collaborate with experts in various fields for performance evaluation.

Skills

Robotics system development

Programming in Python and/or C++

Robot kinematics

Motion planning

Calibration methods

Education

Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

ROS2

MoveIt2

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Protein Crystal Harvesting System

Brookhaven National Laboratory’s National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS‑II) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to develop an automated protein crystal harvesting system at the Center for BioMolecular Structure (CBMS).

In this hands‑on role you will build and deploy closed‑loop perception, visual servoing, and robotic control systems to detect, track, and harvest fragile micron‑scale protein crystals suspended in liquid droplets. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of crystallographers, beamline scientists, controls engineers, mechanical engineers, and data scientists.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement vision‑guided real‑time robotic manipulation methods for crystal harvesting.
• Design and deploy closed‑loop perception and control pipelines using visual feedback.
• Contribute to vision‑based servoing approaches for precise, real‑time positioning.
• Integrate perception outputs with motion planning and execution using ROS2 and MoveIt2.
• Perform system calibration (e.g., hand‑eye calibration, camera calibration) to ensure accurate 3D spatial alignment.
• Evaluate and improve system robustness, including perception uncertainty and failure modes.
• Collaborate closely with domain experts across crystallography, controls, and engineering.
• Participate in system testing, tuning, and performance evaluation.
• Document methods and results; contribute to reports, publications, and presentations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing robotics systems.
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or C++.
• Knowledge of robotic systems: robot kinematics and coordinate transformations, motion planning and trajectory generation.
• Calibration methods.
• Proven track record in disseminating scientific results in the form of publications, or conference presentations.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience developing robotic systems that integrate vision‑guided control in real‑world settings.
• Experience working with ROS2‑based ecosystems.
• Experience with camera calibration, hand‑eye calibration, and coordinate frame registration.
• Experience integrating machine learning models into robotics.
• Familiarity with micro‑manipulation, sensor fusion or state estimation, real‑time system debugging and performance tuning.

What Success Looks Like

• Development of a system capable of reliably detecting and localizing protein crystals.
• Implementation of closed‑loop robotic manipulation using visual feedback.
• Improved robustness and reliability of the crystal harvesting process under real‑world conditions.

Additional Information

• This is an on‑site position based at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York.
• The position is a 2‑year term, with the possibility of renewal contingent on performance and funding availability.
• Salary range: $71,900–$119,000 per year, commensurate with experience.

Equal Opportunity

Brookhaven National Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.