Announcement: We are hiring a post-doc, please see here.

Postdoctoral Researcher in Intelligent Robotic Manipulation and Augmented-Reality (AR)

Status
Open
Project
ARMANIPULATOR
Deadline
31 July 2025
Submission
Online

The Intelligent Robotics Lab at the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) in Pafos, Cyprus is looking to hire a post-doctoral researcher to work on an exciting research project in Intelligent Robotic Manipulation and Augmented Reality (AR). You will work directly with Dr Rafael Papallas, Principal Investigator (PI) of the project. The duration of the position is 20 months.

About the project

Europe is expected to be short by tens of millions of workers by 2050, driven by an ageing population and insufficient migration levels. Labour shortages could lead to product unavailability and price inflations, something that was evident from the recent COVID-19 pandemic. E-commerce and logistics have experienced global growth in recent years; however, the industry remains largely under-automated. With the expected global labour shortages, automation will be critical to sustain economic growth. The objective of this project is to develop intelligent robotic manipulation systems for complex non-prehensile manipulation tasks to compensate for future labour shortages. The project will investigate semi-autonomous, human-guided, robotic manipulation solutions for warehouse automation, and develop novel augmented-reality interfaces for effective human-robot interaction. The proposed solution will accelerate the early deployment of robots in warehouses, contributing to the EU’s strategic plan to tackle key global challenges, enhance its competitiveness, and strengthen its economic resilience.

This project is funded by the Research and Innovation Foundation / Ίδρυμα Έρευνας και Καινοτομίας (ΙδΕΚ). The research proposal was submitted under the VISION ERC call.

More details about the project, please refer to the project page here.

What does the role entail?

As a post-doctoral researcher, with the support of the PI, you will:

  • Develop motion planning and control algorithms for intelligent robotic manipulation tasks in warehouse settings.
  • Develop/integrate perception systems for object pose estimation in cluttered environments.
  • Develop intuitive augmented-reality interfaces for effective human-robot interaction.
  • Deploy and work with real robotic systems (Franka Research 3, 7-DOF arm).
  • Prepare academic papers for publication in leading international journals/conferences.

You do not have to be an expert or experienced in all the above to apply to this role.

Essential Requirements

  • A PhD (or close to completion) in robotics, computer science, augmented/virtual reality interfaces or in a closely related discipline.
  • Strong programming experience using C++ and Python programming languages.
  • A good track record of peer-reviewed publications in high impact factor journals/conferences.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Be available to start this position no later than October 2025.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in robot motion planning (and particularly in manipulation planning).
  • Experience with trajectory-optimization-based motion generation and sampling-based motion planning.
  • Experience with using the Robot Operating System (ROS) and GNU/Linux.
  • Experience with using physics simulators such as MuJoCo, NVIDIA Isaac Sim or other robotic physics simulator.
  • Experience with building intuitive AR/VR interfaces.
  • Availability to travel and present at international robotics conferences.

How to Apply & Contact Information

You can apply online via this form: https://forms.gle/J72pYfca4GUbeMnN9 by 31st of July 2025 23:59. Should you have any question regarding the post, please contact Dr Rafael Papallas at rp00@aubmed.ac.cy

Additional Information

You can find more details about our research on our lab website, roboticslab.cy, and on the university’s website, https://aubmed.ac.cy. The American University of Beirut - Mediterraneo is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

AUB Mediterraneo is a twin campus of the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Beirut, Lebanon, founded in 1866 and globally ranked. AUB operates under a charter granted by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) which registers the university’s degree programs. AUB is ranked 226 in the 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings (WUR), solidifying the university’s status as a top-tier educational institution regionally and globally.