Connectionists: PhD Studentship in Bioinspired Control for Human-Soft-Robot Interactions - Technical University of Denmark

Fri Mar 18 11:25:04 EDT 2022

Dear all,

We are seeking an exceptional PhD candidate: https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/vacant-positions/job?id=51815577-e088-4906-870a-5b34a12109f0

[https://www.dtu.dk:443/english/-/media/dtu_generelt/standard_grafik/dtu.jpg]<https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/vacant-positions/job?id=51815577-e088-4906-870a-5b34a12109f0>

PhD scholarship in Compliant Physical Human-Robot Interactions by Means of Bioinspired Control<https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/vacant-positions/job?id=51815577-e088-4906-870a-5b34a12109f0>
www.dtu.dk

The Department of Electrical and Photonics Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) invites applicants for a 3-years PhD position in the areas of soft-robotics and bioinspired control.

At DTU, you will be part of a group with broad competences in robotics and autonomous systems, and you will have access to unique facilities where you will be able to conduct your research in a highly motivated, technology-oriented environment where you will enrich your competences through collaboration with several peers and senior staff members.

The PhD project is financed by DTU, and it is part of a joint alliance research project; the alliance partner is the University of Technology of Eindhoven (TU/e), Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Responsibilities
Do you have a passion for cross-disciplinary research spanning the fields of computational neuroscience and engineering? If so, you might be well-suited to join the neurorobotics team. In general, our neurorobotics team works to apply biological control concepts in simulation and on physical robots to investigate neuroscientific hypotheses on biological processes related to motor control and learning. In parallel, within the automation and control area, we investigate high-accuracy nonlinear control for complex motion control applications.

This new project will focus on the research of new control framework for soft robots that can guarantee safe operation with humans in the loop. This will be achieved by subsequent design, testing and validation of a biomimetic control architecture that combines nonlinear model-based adaptive control and spiking neural learning (cerebellum-like model).

The project will be under the supervision of Associate Professor Silvia Tolu and Assistant Professor Dimitrios Papageorgiou from DTU with co-supervision from TU/e.

Besides working on their project, the successful candidate will participate in training events and courses. Moreover, the PhD student will conduct a secondment at the TU/e.

The PhD student at DTU will closely collaborate with a PhD student at TU/e in research tasks regarding: 1) the investigation of the use of soft-robots in health-care settings with respect to requirements and conditions of Human Robot Interactions (HRI); 2) implementation of compliant interactions of soft robot and haptic system with humans; 3) design of non-linear adaptive control strategy for robust behaviour of the soft robot; 4) use of haptic feedback and machine learning in a closed-loop connection; 5) development of supervised error learning and reinforcement learning algorithms for optimal interactive movements.

The methods will be applied in a soft-modular robot with the goal of exploring the fusion of learning and control approaches. The aim is to accomplish motor learning and contribute to the execution of coordinated, safe, and precise assistive tasks. Combination of dynamic modelling and adaptive control strategies will ensure stability and robustness while exploring complex tasks.

Extensive experimental verification in a controlled environment will be performed.

Qualifications
Applicants should have:

  *   An outstanding academic record, excellent skills, and ideally proven experience in the fields of Computer Science, Electrical/Electronic engineering, Robotics, Automation engineering and or similar. Experience in the fields of robot programming, computer vision, mathematical modelling, machine learning, and/or computational neuroscience is beneficial.
  *   Excellent methodological skills and an analytical mind-set, ability to work both independently and as a member of a research team.
  *   Outstanding communication skills in English, both oral and written.
  *   High motivation, ambition, and enthusiasm about research in physical manipulation with robots.
  *   Excited to collaborate with a diverse team of robotics researchers and engineers.

To be eligible for recruitment, the following criteria must be met:

  *   Applicants must have a university degree that qualifies for PhD studies at the time of recruitment.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education<https://www.dtu.dk/english/Education/PhD/Rules>.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation, and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be based on the salary conditions for Phd students. The period of employment is 3 years. The successful candidate will receive an employment full time contract.

The expected start date for the position is June-September 2022.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here<http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths>.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Silvia Tolu, tel. +45 4525 3928, email: stolu at dtu.dk<mailto:stolu at dtu.dk> or from Assistant Professor Dimitrios Papageorgiou, email: dimpa at elektro.dtu.dk<mailto:dimpa at elektro.dtu.dk>.

You can read more about DTU Electrical<https://www.dtu.dk/english/education/graduate/msc-programmes/Electrical-Engineering> and Photonics<https://www.dtu.dk/english/education/graduate/msc-programmes/photonics-engineering> Engineering on the web.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark<https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/moving-to-denmark>.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 19 April 2022 (Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

  *   A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
  *   Curriculum vitae
  *   Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
  *   A project proposal for the position (max 2 pages). Proposals can include a research statement, a short plan related to the position, a plan for publications and research risk management.
  *   Optional:
     *   A list of scientific and technical publications, awards and certifications that are relevant for the vacancy.
     *   Up to 3 relevant publications in related scientific fields.
     *   Up to 3 reference letters.

Candidates will be selected based on their merits in the fields related to the expected area of expertise. The committee will evaluate all applications, and the top-ranked candidates will be invited for interviews. Note that your data will be made available to the TU/e partners for the purpose of conducting the assessment of all candidates.

You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications via email or postal services will not be considered. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion, or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 12,900 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

Best regards / Med Venlig Hilsen<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/med_venlig_hilsen>,

Silvia Tolu

Associate Professor
Neuro-Robotics Team leader https://bioroboticsdtu.wordpress.com/
Associate Editor for Frontiers Neurorobotics Journal

Automation and Control Group
Department of Electrical and Photonics Engineering
Technical University of Denmark
------------------------------------
Richard Petersens Plads
Building 326, room 106
2800 Kgs. Lyngby
Direct +45 45253928
email: stolu at elektro.dtu.dk
Contribute to my RESEARCH TOPIC in Frontiers https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/16670

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