Research Fellow in Software Systems for Telesurgery

Research Fellow in Software Systems for Telesurgery Italy Commitment & contract : collaboration, 24 months Location : Center for Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Via San Quirico 19D, 16163 Genova (GE), Italy Step into a world of endless possibilities, together let’s leave something for the future! At IIT, we are committed to advancing human-centered Science and Technology to address the most urgent societal challenges of our era. We foster excellence in both fundamental and applied research, spanning fields such as neuroscience and cognition, humanoid technologies and robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and material sciences, offering a truly interdisciplinary scientific experience. Our approach integrates cutting‑edge tools and technology, empowering researchers to push the limits of knowledge and innovation. With us, your curiosity will know no bounds. We are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering diversity in all its forms, creating an inclusive environment. We value the unique experiences, knowledge, backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives of our people. By embracing diversity, we believe science can achieve its fullest potential. THE TEAM You will be working in a multicultural and multi‑disciplinary group, where junior and senior scientists collaborate, each with their expertise, to carry out a scientific activity with a shared research goal. The Biomedical Robotics Lab (BRL) is coordinated by Dr. Leonardo De Mattos, who is also the coordinator of AIRCARE. This is a multidisciplinary group, within which researchers from a range of scientific and engineering backgrounds collaborate to create novel solutions to key problems in robotics. The lab focuses on research and development of human‑centered medical robotic technologies, including technologies for microsurgery, disease detection and diagnosis, assistive user interfaces, and general healthcare. BRL is part of the Advanced Robotics research unit, directed by Prof. Darwin Caldwell. This large department focuses on an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to robot design and control, and the development of novel robotic components and technologies for applications in medical, surgical and rehabilitation robotics, exoskeletons and force augmentation, manipulation and dexterous manipulators, telepresence and teleoperation, industrial automation and robotics, active perception and learning, inspection robotics, hyper‑redundant robots, robot dynamics and robots for hazardous environments. THE PROJECT This position is part of the Horizon Europe project AIRCARE, an Innovation Action dedicated to the advancement of robotics and AI technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) diseases. The aim of the project is to assess these novel technologies through clinical trials, i.e., through tests involving human patients. The project is ongoing and we have just finished the first phase dedicated to the definition of requirements, specifications, design and preliminary prototyping. We are now starting the super exciting phase of user testing, iterative systems improvements, preparation for the clinical trials, and R&D towards advanced functionalities and capabilities. In this context, IIT’s BRL is seeking to appoint a highly motivated Research Fellow to contribute to the development, deployment and testing of embedded systems and user interfaces for our surgical robotic systems. Specifically, we are looking for a software engineer with experience in the development of firmware and software for systems integration and teleoperation. The work will contribute to the development and clinical assessment of a next‑generation robotic device for transoral laser microsurgery. THE ROLE The selected candidate will join AIRCARE’s consortium and work in a multi‑disciplinary team of engineers and surgeons. He/she will contribute to the refinement, validation, deployment and clinical testing of our newest Computer‑Assisted Laser Microsurgery (CALM) device for delicate procedures in the upper aero‑digestive tract. Core focus will be on the development of firmware and software for device control, teleoperation, and integration with other surgical devices. In addition, the selected candidate will have the opportunity to research and develop high‑level controllers for autonomous functionalities, which shall lead to enhance usability and improved surgical performance. The work will involve extensive experimentation with our partner surgeons, with testing both in the lab (based on a realistic surgical setup) and in the operating room (during the later phase of clinical trials). The position requires physical presence in the lab at IIT in Genova, Italy. Remote work is not possible. Main Responsibilities Refinement of CALM’s firmware in terms of motor control performance and safety supervision routines Development of firmware for teleoperation and integration with a surgical laser device Performance testing and validation of CALM’s functionalities R&D towards high‑level controllers for autonomous functionalities Preparation of documentation and reports, and contribution to the writing of academic papers References Lapo Carrieri, Michele Di Lucchio, Luca Giannoni, Alperen Acemoglu, and Leonardo S. Mattos, “Design and Control of a Novel Computer‑Assisted Laser Microsurgery System Based on Rotary Voice Coil Actuators,” IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics, Print ISSN: 2576‑3202, Online ISSN: 2576‑3202, , October 6, 2025 Shunlei Li, Ajay Gunalan, Muhammad Adeel Azam, Veronica Penza, Darwin G. Caldwell, Leonardo S. Mattos, “Auto‑CALM: Autonomous Computer‑Assisted Laser Microsurgery,” IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics, , 6(4), pp. 1423‑1435, November 2024 Essential Requirements MSc degree in engineering, computer science or related fields Documented experience in the design and development of firmware for mechatronic systems control Experience with control systems engineering and implementation Strong knowledge of programming languages C / C++, Matlab Experience with front‑end and back‑end software development Ability to properly organize, document and report on project progress Interest in medical devices and surgical technologies Strong problem solving attitude Proficiency in spoken and written English Availability to work in Genova, Italy Additional Skills Experience in the design and development of robotic systems Experience in the development of user interfaces (hardware and/or software) Experience in the development of medical device under MDR Knowledge of human factors, usability, user interfaces Experience in clinical trials Proficiency in Italian Capacity to work autonomously and collaboratively in a highly interdisciplinary environment Possess Analytical Reasoning skills and a growth mindset Ability to work in a challenging and international environment Compensation Package A yearly gross salary ranging between 20,000€ and 30,000€ Private health care coverage depending on your role and contract Candidates from abroad or Italian citizens who have carried scientific research activity permanently abroad and meet specific requirements, may be entitled to a deduction from taxable income of up to 90% from 6 to 13 years. This open position is financed by the European Commission within the AIRCARE project (GA No. 101137426). #J-18808-Ljbffr