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<p><b>Postdoc and PhD student position for a project investigating
and leveraging the neuromechanics of human locomotion using
humanoid robots (Fall 2026)</b></p>
<p>The Biorobotics laboratory (Biorob, <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/" moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/</a>)
at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) has one Postdoc and one PhD
student position for a project aiming at investigating and
leveraging the neuromechanics of human locomotion using humanoid
robots. See <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/openings/" moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/openings/</a></p>
<p>The objectives of the project are (1) to investigate the
principles of healthy and pathological human locomotion using
numerical models (neuromechanical simulations), and (2) to use
insights from biology to develop bio-inspired locomotion
controllers to be used together with reinforcement learning on
humanoid robots. </p>
<p><strong>Background:</strong></p>
<p>The versatility of human locomotion is still not well understood
from a neuroscience point of view nor well replicated in humanoid
robots. In particular, the interactions between higher centers
(e.g. the motor cortex), the spinal cord and the musculoskeletal
system are poorly understood. The goal of this project is to
develop a computational architecture that (i) integrates both
spinal cord circuits and supraspinal control; (ii) uses deep
reinforcement learning for supraspinal planning and learning,
(iii) allows testing hypotheses about human motor control and
pathologies at a conceptual level, and (iv) can serve as basis for
controlling and learning versatile motor skills in humanoid
robots.</p>
<p><b>Requirements:</b><br>
The goal would be to hire one researcher with a background in
computational neuroscience (idealy with experience in numerical
models of human locomotion) and one researcher with a background
in robotics (ideally with expertise in the control of legged or
humanoid robots). The ideal candidates should also have strong
backgrounds in math and programming, and an interest in
interdisciplinary research.</p>
<p><b>Deadline and starting date:</b><br>
Applications will be considered starting from now on, and then
continuously until the position is filled. A good starting date
would be <strong>September 2026.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Application: </strong>See <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/openings/" moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob/openings/</a></p>
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Prof Auke Jan Ijspeert (he/him)
Biorobotics Laboratory
EPFL-STI-IBI-BIOROB, ME D1 1226, Station 9
EPFL, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Office: ME D1 1226 Tel: +41 21 693 2658 Fax: +41 21 693 3705
www: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://biorob.epfl.ch" moz-do-not-send="true">http://biorob.epfl.ch</a> Email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:Auke.Ijspeert@epfl.ch" moz-do-not-send="true">Auke.Ijspeert@epfl.ch</a>
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