Postdoctoral Associate

Duke University, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Position ID: Duke-MEMS-PDBCHEN [#32113] Position Title: Postdoctoral Associate Position Type: Postdoctoral Location: Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States of America Occupational Summary Conduct independent research activities under the guidance of a faculty mentor in preparation for a full‑time academic or research career. Work Performed The Postdoctoral Appointee holds a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g., ScD, MD, DVM). Candidates with non‑US degrees may be required to provide proof of degree equivalency. A candidate may be appointed if the degree requirements have been completed, but the degree has not yet been formally conferred; the candidate can present evidence of completion and a statement of the expected conferral date. International candidates must have their degree conferred before petition or visa issuance. The term of the appointment is limited, as described in the Postdoc Policy. The appointment involves substantially full‑time research or scholarship and may include teaching responsibilities. The Postdoctoral Appointee functions under the supervision of a mentor or a department at Duke University. The Postdoctoral Appointee is expected to publish the results of research or scholarship during the appointment term. Expectation Conscientious discharge of research or scholarship responsibilities, which may include teaching for Postdoctoral Associates. Conformance to standards of responsible conduct in research. Compliance with good scholarly and research practice. Maintenance of a laboratory notebook and/or other comparable records of research activity, which remain the property of Duke University upon termination. Adherence to University standards regarding the use of chemicals and related substances. Open and timely discussion with the mentor regarding all facets of the Postdoctoral Appointee's research activities. Prompt disclosure to the mentor regarding possession of and intent to distribute materials, reagents, software, and copyrightable or potentially patentable discoveries derived from research. Collegial conduct toward members of the research group and others as described in the Duke University School of Medicine Honor Code of Professional Conduct and other relevant conduct policies. Compliance with all applicable University and departmental policies and procedures. The Postdoc Candidate Is Expected To Design and develop adaptive AI systems and robotic platforms that enable human‑AI teaming in unstructured, real‑world environments, emphasizing robust perception, decision‑making, and physical interaction under uncertainty. Build and integrate learning‑based control, perception, and planning algorithms onto robotic hardware (including mobile and manipulation platforms) for safe and effective collaboration with human operators in dynamic, partially observable settings. Design, conduct, and analyze experiments—in both simulation and on physical hardware—to evaluate the adaptability, robustness, and effectiveness of human‑AI teaming in unstructured environments, and disseminate findings through high‑impact publications and open‑source releases. Minimum Qualifications The candidate should have a Ph.D. in Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related area. Experience 0+ years of postgraduate experience. Skills The candidate must have excellent system building skills and demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas: machine learning and adaptive AI systems, robotic perception and control, mechanism and hardware design, multi‑modal locomotion or manipulation, sim‑to‑real transfer, and deployment of robotic systems in unstructured environments. Strong written and oral communication skills, a track record of peer‑reviewed publications, and the ability to work collaboratively with humans and other researchers in a team‑based setting are required. Essential Physical Job Functions Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and a provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department. Equal Opportunity Employment Duke is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The institution is also committed to ensuring that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, respect each other’s contributions, and uphold the values of collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. #J-18808-Ljbffr Duke MEMS Graduate Student Committee