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

The Maryland Robotics Center (MRC) in the Institute for Systems Research at the University of Maryland, College Park, is seeking candidates for the 2024-2025 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 meta-reasoning 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.

Experience:

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.

1. 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.

2. Applicant’s CV including publication list.

3. 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.

4. 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 email all application materials as a single pdf file named Applicant’s LastName_MRCFY24FELLOW to robotics@umd.edu. The letter of endorsement from an MRC faculty member should be included in the pdf file application. Questions should be directed to robotics@umd.edu. For best consideration, applications should be submitted by April 30, 2024.

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

The Maryland Robotics Center (MRC), an interdisciplinary research center in the Institute for Systems Research within the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland serves as the catalyst for high-quality research, innovation, and learning, delivering on a promise that all graduates will leave ready to impact the Grand Challenges (e.g., energy, environment, security, and human health) of the 21st century. The Clark School is dedicated to leading and transforming the engineering discipline and profession, to accelerating entrepreneurship, and to transforming research and learning activities into new innovations that benefit millions.

• Performs sedentary work.
• Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to sit for an extended time and operate standard office equipment and keyboards.
• Ability to review and prepare data on reports and computer screens and engage in extensive reading.

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.