Description

The Structures-Computer Interaction Laboratory at UCLA is seeking two postdoctoral researchers to join our multidisciplinary team working on cutting-edge projects at the intersection of robotics, computer vision, and autonomous systems. The successful candidates will contribute to research in either robotics or computer vision, depending on their expertise.

Position Overview

1. Postdoctoral Researcher in Robotics: We are looking for a full-stack roboticist with a proven track record of building robots, as demonstrated by publications in top journals and conferences. The ideal candidate should be comfortable with numerical modeling (our software is written in C/C++) and core concepts of machine learning, or be a fast learner.
2. Postdoctoral Researcher in Computer Vision (3D Reconstruction and Autonomous Navigation): We seek a researcher with a strong background in computer vision and autonomous navigation. The ideal candidate should have a demonstrated track record at the intersection of computer vision and robotics, with preference given to those who have experience with physical robots or hardware.
   
   
   

Research Projects

• Robotics Focus:
  • Design, fabrication, and field trials of autonomous robots for precision agriculture: Building autonomous robots and drones for tasks such as weed and pest management.
  • Fabrication and numerical simulation of bio-inspired soft robots: Developing soft robots that mimic bacterial locomotion, focusing on leveraging structural instability for propulsion.
  • Robotic manipulation for autonomous painting: Augmenting collaborative robots for autonomous household painting.
• Computer Vision Focus:
  • Efficient 3D reconstruction of large agricultural fields: Developing novel 3D reconstruction techniques using neural radiance fields (NeRF) and reinforcement learning.
  • Autonomous navigation of UAVs and UGVs: Creating frameworks for robust autonomous navigation in both indoor and outdoor agricultural environments.
    
    

Duties and Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and test robotic solutions and/or develop computer vision methods and navigation frameworks.
• Conduct field trials at partner institutions, which may last several weeks.
• Mentor and supervise graduate and undergraduate students.
• Write and edit manuscripts for high-quality journals and participate in grant writing.
• Participate in lab management activities as deemed necessary by the supervisor.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent degree in robotics, computer vision, computer science, engineering, or related disciplines from a renowned university (students in their final year of doctoral programs are also eligible).
• Experience in either building robots or computer vision (3D reconstruction preferred), depending on the position.
• Multiple first-authored publications in top journals and conferences in their field of study.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• For Robotics: Experience with numerical simulations, machine learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch), and a working knowledge of LaTeX and Adobe software.
• For Computer Vision: Experience with 3D reconstruction methods (NeRF), autonomous navigation, and deploying solutions on physical robots, plus similar software skills.
  
  

Position Details

• The initial appointment is for one year, with a performance evaluation and possible extension for a second year.
• The start date is November 1, 2024, or a mutually agreed upon date.
• The position is fully onsite with no remote work opportunities available.
  
  

Application Process

Applications should be emailed to khalidjm@seas.ucla.edu. Please include the words “Postdoc - Robotics” or ““Postdoc - Computer Vision” in the subject line depending on your preferred position and submit the following documents as a single PDF:

• Cover letter (including names of at least two referees),
• Detailed CV,
• Two first-authored publications relevant to the position.
• Applications received by October 6, 2024, will receive full consideration; however, applications will be reviewed until the positions are filled.
  
  

Salary

Information on salary can be found on UCLA’s website. However, an exceptional candidate is expected to be appointed at a base annual salary of $75,000 (above institutional guidelines), contingent upon approval and exceptional case justification.

References

Below is a list of representative publications that the candidate should be able to read, understand, and implement.

Robotics focus:

• Autonomous Robot for Weed Control and Precision Agriculture
• Bacteria-Inspired Soft Robot
• Robotic Painting 
• DisMech: A Discrete Differential Geometry-Based Physical Simulator for Soft Robots and Structures [GitHub] 
  
  

Computer Vision focus:

• Neural Radiance Fields
• Agronav: Autonomous Navigation Framework for Agricultural Robots