Postdoctoral Research Associate - Robotics and AI

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Mississippi; On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Mississippi in Oxford is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in robotics and AI to join Dr. Xiaopeng Zhao’s group and apply expertise to real hardware on diverse testbeds.

The role includes mentoring graduate students, leading publications, and contributing to proposal development with a clear path toward research-faculty status as external funding grows.

Qualifications

• PhD in a related engineering field by the time of appointment.
• Experience in robotics or autonomous systems and hardware deployment.
• Proficiency in Python and C++ with ROS/ROS 2 and strong English communication.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and deploy robotics and AI methods on real hardware and testbeds.
• Lead publications, present at venues, and mentor graduate students.
• Collaborate with clinical, industrial, and academic partners across disciplines.

Skills

Python

C++

ROS/ROS 2

PyTorch

Machine learning

English communication

Publication track record

Mentoring students

Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering / Electrical or Computer Engineering / Computer Science / Robotics / Aerospace Engineering / Mechatronics

Tools

ROS 2

Job description

The University of Mississippi — fondly referred to as Ole Miss —stands as a premier public research institution with a proud legacyof academic distinction. We are devoted to nurturing a vibrant,inclusive community where every member — student, faculty, andstaff — can achieve their fullest potential.

Job Summary:

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University ofMississippi seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate in robotics andAI to join Dr. Xiaopeng Zhao’s research group. We welcomeapplicants from across engineering and computer science withexpertise in any area of robotics, including manipulation, mobileand legged robots, autonomous navigation, perception and computervision, motion planning and control, learning-based control,human-robot interaction, and sensing and state estimation. The group’s distinctive focus is making AI-enabled robots reliableand deployable in the real world: not only building capablesystems, but validating them, monitoring them, and establishing thecredibility that lets them be trusted in clinical and industrialsettings. You will apply your robotics expertise to real hardwareon various testbeds. The role includes a named part in proposaldevelopment, mentoring of graduate students, and a clear pathtoward research-faculty status as external funding grows.

Job Description:

• Develop, implement, and deploy robotics and AI methods on realhardware, in the area that fits your strengths (for exampleperception, control, planning, learning, manipulation, navigation,or human-robot interaction).
• Help make those systems reliable and deployable: validation,testing, runtime monitoring, and building the case for safereal-world use.
• Lead publications, present at leading venues, and co-developfederal and foundation proposals.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students and develop reusablemethods, demonstrations, and shared testbeds that build lastingresearch capacity.
• Collaborate with clinical, industrial, and academic partnersacross disciplines.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical or ComputerEngineering, Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering,Mechatronics, or a closely related field by the time ofappointment.
• Research experience in one or more areas of robotics orautonomous systems (for example manipulation, mobile or leggedrobots, navigation, perception, motion planning and control,learning-based control, sensing and state estimation, orhuman-robot interaction).
• Hands-on experience building or deploying robotic systems onphysical hardware (for example ROS / ROS 2), or a clear trackrecord of moving work from simulation to hardware.
• Proficiency in Python and modern machine-learning tools (forexample PyTorch), and systems-level programming (C++ / ROS).
• A strong publication record relative to career stage, includingat least one first-author paper, and excellent written and verbalcommunication in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Interest or experience in making AI-enabled systemstrustworthy: verification and validation, uncertaintyquantification, runtime monitoring, safety cases, orreliability.
• Experience with medical or physiological devices, or withindustrial automation and manufacturing robotics.
• Experience contributing to research proposals and mentoringstudents across disciplines.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experienceand will follow institutional guidelines. The position includes acompetitive benefits package.

Education Qualifications:

PhD (Required)

Interview Requirement:

Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called for aninterview must notify the Department of EqualOpportunity/Regulatory Compliance in writing of any reasonableaccommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

EEO Statement:

The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in anyemployment practice, education program, or education activity toall qualified persons. The University complies with all applicablelaws regarding equal opportunity and does not unlawfullydiscriminate against any employee or applicant for employment basedupon race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation,gender identity or expression, religion, national origin,ethnicity, citizenship, age, disability, military status, protectedveteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protectedstatus.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safecampus community. UM conducts background investigations forapplicants being considered for employment. Backgroundinvestigations include a criminal history record check, and whenappropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving historycheck.