Maryland Robotics Center (MRC) Postdoctoral Fellowship

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University of Maryland

Location: College Park, Maryland
Category: Admin-Other Administrative Positions
Application Deadline:

Job Description

Position Number:

11040119

Title:

Post-Doctoral Associate

Functional Title:

Maryland Robotics Center (MRC) Postdoctoral Fellowship

Category Status:

15-Fac.Non-Tenured,Continuing Con

Applicant Search Category:

Faculty

Unit:

ENGR-Institute for Systems Research

Campus/College Information:

Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the state’s flagship institution. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation’s legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nation’s capital and surrounding areas. The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the state of Maryland, and in the world.

Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify you from employment.

Vaccine Protocol

The University of Maryland has made the safety of our students, faculty and staff, and our surrounding communities a top priority. As part of that commitment, the University requires that students, faculty, and staff on the UMD campus be vaccinated against COVID-19. As a prospective and/or a new employee at UMD, you will be required to comply with the University’s vaccination protocol. Proof of full vaccination will be required before the start of employment in order to work at any University of Maryland location. Prospective or new employees may seek a medical or religious exemption to the vaccination requirement at return.umd.edu and must have an approved exemption prior to the start of their employment. Failure to provide proof of vaccination or to obtain approval for a medical or religious exemption will result in the offer of employment being rescinded.

Position Summary/Purpose of Position:

The Maryland Robotics Center (MRC) within the Institute for Systems Research (ISR) at the University of Maryland, College Park, is seeking candidates for the 2023-2024 MRC Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Candidate research interests should fit into one or more of the following research areas:

Multi-Robot Systems: robotic swarms, robotic cooperation under limited communication, distributed robotics, long-distance collaborative autonomy;
Autonomous Unmanned Systems: aerial robotics, robot motion planning, digital twin development, robot navigation of complex terrain, and simulation-based verification for autonomous systems; field robotics;
Cognitive Robotics: explainable artificial intelligence, perception-based interaction, and metareasoning to improve team performance;
Human-Robot Interaction: Human-robot collaboration, human behavior modeling, human-robot communication, learning and cognition, planning and re-planning, management of trust and its effects on collaboration, and forensics for human-machine teaming.

We recognize that strength comes through diversity and actively seek and welcome people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities. We especially encourage women and minority candidates to apply.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:
Applicants are required to have received a Ph.D. in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field by the expected start date on or before July 1, 2023 and should be within 5 years of their Ph.D. graduation date.

Other:

Applicants should have demonstrated a capacity for independent work.

Preferences:

Applicants should be outstanding, intellectually curious researchers at an early stage in their scholarly career.

Additional Information:

Applications will be judged on the qualifications of the applicant and the quality and originality of the proposed research and its potential impact. Prior to applying, applicants are required to contact an MRC faculty member in order to identify a prospective postdoctoral mentor. MRC postdoctoral fellows will have access to the full range of talent and resources available at the Maryland Robotics Center, and will be encouraged to interact broadly with the Center faculty in addition to their postdoctoral faculty advisor and their research group.

We expect to offer fellowship positions with funding guaranteed for one year. Renewing beyond the first year is subject to funding availability and performance. Competitive salary and benefits will be provided.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

A letter of interest from the applicant clearly stating one or more research areas listed above and a 1-2 page description of the proposed research. The research proposal should include the name of the postdoctoral advisor (see #3), title of research project, statement of objectives, anticipated contributions to the state of the art, and requested start date.
Applicant’s CV including publication list.
A letter of endorsement from a faculty member of the Maryland Robotics Center. Faculty bios and websites are accessible from robotics.umd.edu/faculty. This letter of endorsement should be included in the pdf file application.
A letter of recommendation, preferably from the applicant’s Ph.D. thesis advisor, to be sent directly to robotics@umd.edu with the candidate’s name as the subject. The letter should provide detailed assessments of the applicant’s qualifications and potential for innovative, ground-breaking independent research and the expected date of completion of the PhD requirements, if still in progress.

Applicants should complete and submit this Google form and upload all application materials as a single pdf file named Applicant’s LastName_MRCFY23FELLOW. The letter of endorsement from an MRC faculty member should be included in the pdf file application. The letter of recommendation should be sent to robotics@umd.edu with the candidate’s name as the subject. Questions should be directed to robotics@umd.edu. For best consideration, applications should be submitted by March 1, 2023.

The MRC Postdoctoral Fellowship positions are subject to availability of funds and hiring approval by the Institute for Systems Research.

Posting Date:

01/19/2023

Open Until Filled

Yes

Best Consideration Date

03/01/2023

Diversity Statement:

The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Women, minorities, LGBTQ+, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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