Postdoc positions at [xxxxx] Robotics

SDU Robotics, part of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), invites applications for two postdoc positions. The candidates will be integrated in the unit SDU Robotics, which is a team of approx. 65 employees. We value teamwork, professional diligence, enthusiasm for robotics and the drive to adopt new skills and extended responsibilities. We offer an open, international team with flexible work organization and support of individual development.

SDU Robotics is at the core of the Odense Robotics Cluster involving 130+ startups and established companies in robotics and is involved in a variety of national and European projects and features a strong network of academic and industrial partners. The aim of the unit is to solve challenging research problems derived from real-life challenges by implementing novel robot solutions. We participate in implementing the achieved results in real solutions with end users as Universal Robots, LEGO, Terma and Novo Nordisk.

As a postdoctoral researcher your role will encompass mainly research, but teaching responsibilities could also be part of the employment. The main duties and responsibilities include:

• Research in collaboration with colleagues from SDU Robotics.
• Conducting scientific research and publishing the results in high quality scientific conferences/journals.
• Supporting the team in securing external funding.

• Participation in ongoing and future research projects.

• Contributing to project deliverables.

Furthermore, the successful candidates are expected to:

• Have excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken).

• Be able to work well and communicate expert knowledge in an interdisciplinary team.
• Have the ability of working independently as part of an agile team.
• Have a strong sense of responsibility.

Job description and requirements

In the motivation letter, the candidates are requested to state which of the two positions is preferred.

Postdoc A within Manipulation and Control of Robots

We are currently extending the team within robot control. The postdoc will also be working on various projects that focus on manipulation, modeling, estimation, and control applied to industrial robot manipulators.

The team is specialized in robot solutions involving modelling, estimation, and control of advanced robot systems. The research aims to facilitate easy programming of robots for low-volume production, and ensuring constraint satisfaction despite uncertainties in the considered system. Also, we attempt to enable the use of robots for increasingly more complex tasks including manipulation of flexible and deformable objects.

The postdoc A is for a 3-year period and is available per 01.03.2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. Work location is the main Campus in Odense/Denmark.

The candidate must hold a PhD degree in a relevant area such as robotics, control, modelling, and estimation preferably applied to robotic manipulators. The candidate is expected to have most of the following qualifications:

• Expert knowledge in the control of robots
• Experience with control of safety-critical systems
• Experience in numerical optimization
• Experience in simulation of robotic systems
• Experience in design and development of robotic systems
• Practical experience with robotic systems

Postdoc B within planning and control of robotic production operations for large maritime structures

The candidate will be part of the ramp-up of SDU’s newly established center for Large Structure Production (LSP), which is integrated in the unit SDU Robotics. LSP’s central ambition is to provide a physical “go-to” lab for companies in the sectors maritime, construction and energy to carry out research, development and testing of novel solutions in the production of large structures, such as buildings, ships and offshore platforms. In this context, the candidate is expected to work closely with our industrial partners on application-oriented use cases, while helping to commission and operate the unique set of equipment of the center.

The LSP team is looking for a postdoc in the area of model- and simulation-based planning and control of robotic production operations (e.g. welding) in the maritime sector. The starting point for the candidate to develop their academic profile in LSP will be the development of Digital Twin-based solutions for analyzing, simulating and controlling robotic operations together with our partners Inrotech and Odense Maritime Technology. The aim is to yield a well-defined digital workflow from product design to production operations that is proven in real-life experiments.

The candidate will design and implement methods to i) analyze maritime structure designs based on digital models and discrete-event simulations of their production, and ii) implement means of automated control of robotic equipment based on detailed quasi-continuous 3D simulations of the required production operations, including multiple robots, tools and sensors.

The postdoc B is for a 2-year period and is available per 15.02.2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. Main work location is Odense/Denmark at SDU and Odense Havn (Odense Port).

The candidate must hold a PhD degree in engineering with outstanding academic track record and is expected to have most of the following qualifications:

• Documented knowledge in industrial robotics and various types of simulation
• Documented practical experience with industrial robot operations, e.g. welding
• Strong programming skills (particularly in C/C++ and Python)
• Strong mathematics skills and practical knowledge in 3D modelling
• Willingness to engage in application-oriented R&D, by closely interacting with company staff

Contact information

Further information about:

• Postdoc A is available via email from Associate Professor Christoffer Sloth [email protected].
• Postdoc B is available via email from Professor Christian Schlette [email protected] or on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/christian-schlette/).

Please visit us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/SDU-robotics.

If you experience technical problems, you must contact [email protected].

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Employment as a postdoc requires scientific qualifications at PhD level. Employment as a postdoc is temporary and will cease without further notice at the end of the period.

Research will be predominant in the position. Teaching assignments can be agreed individually. Furthermore, other types of assignments may occur to a limited degree. The Faculty determines the distribution of the various assignments. The weighting of the different assignments may vary over time.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please check link for more information on salary and taxation.

THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS:

Read about the assessment and selection process. Shortlisting may be used.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

The Faculty expects applicants to read How to apply before applying.

The application deadline is 22.10.2023.

The application must be in English and must include:

• A motivation letter that clearly explains the applicant's interest, qualifications, and motivation for the position (max. 2 pages) – remember to state which of the two positions is preferred.
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae, including personal contact information.
• Verified copies of official Certificates/Diplomas (MSc and PhD). PhD candidates nearing completion may provide a PhD enrollment certificate as proof of their status.
• List of publications indicating the publications attached.
• Examples of the most relevant publications. Please attach one pdf-file for each publication.
• Reference letters, names of references and other relevant qualifications may also be included.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.