Southeast HERC

Pay Grade/Pay Range:  Minimum: $53,500 - Midpoint: $66,900 (Salaried E8)

Department/Organization: 214271 - Mechanical Engineering

Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm

Job Summary: The Postdoctoral Fellow provides for an internship and continuation of scholarly activity and research after achieving the PhD or other doctoral degree under the direction of a senior faculty member who serves as a mentor for the postdoctoral appointee.

Additional Department Summary: The Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Alabama is seeking candidates for a Postdoctoral fellow position within the Agile Robotics Lab (ARL) (arl.ua.edu). This position will contribute to ongoing research efforts in soft robotics, tensegrity robotic systems, wearable robotic technologies, intelligent sensing systems, and robotic autonomy. Research activities include the design, fabrication, system integration, sensing, modeling, control, and experimental validation of next-generation robotic systems, with emphasis on research translation and real-world deployment.

Successful candidates will hold a terminal degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field and demonstrate strong academic achievement and research productivity. Initial appointments are for one year with renewal contingent upon demonstration of research productivity and funding.

Required Department Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. or other terminal degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Candidates must have completed their Ph.D. by the start date of employment.

Skills and Knowledge: Experience in soft robotics, robotic sensing systems, wearable robotics, tensegrity systems, mechatronics, embedded systems, or robotic autonomy. Experience with robotic fabrication, experimental validation, system integration, and data acquisition/analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, ROS, computer vision, or motion tracking systems.

Preferred Qualifications: Demonstrated experience in soft robotics research, including fabrication, locomotion analysis, sensing, and control of soft robotic systems. Experience with computer vision, image processing, motion tracking, and closed-loop robotic control frameworks is highly desirable. Proficiency in programming and analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, C/C++, Arduino, and ROS preferred. Experience with experimental robotic platforms, embedded systems, and hardware-software system integration is beneficial. Candidates with prior experience in developing reproducible fabrication workflows, robotic autonomy strategies, wearable or tendon-driven robotic systems, and publication of peer-reviewed robotics research are strongly preferred. Experience mentoring students and supporting laboratory instructional or research activities is also desirable.

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

About University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

As the state’s flagship university, The University of Alabama family has always focused on being the best. After all, we are The Capstone of Higher Education. Founded in 1831 as the state’s first public college, The University of Alabama is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and service. We provide a creative, nurturing campus environment where our students can become the best individuals possible, learn from the best and brightest faculty, and make a positive difference in the community, the state and the world. You’ll like what you find here. Become part of The University of Alabama family.

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