Deep-water robotics for scientific exploration and monitoring
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Work description
Coordination, implementation and technical management of national and international R&D projects in underwater robotics. Preparation of competitive R&D project proposals, including technical concepts, work plans, budgets, partnerships and scientific/technological impact. Scientific and technical leadership of activities related to deep-water ROV/AUV systems, underwater navigation, positioning, perception and data acquisition. Supervision, mentoring and technical guidance of junior researchers, engineers, MSc students and PhD students. Contribution to the strategic development of research lines, laboratory capabilities and field-operation methodologies in deep-water robotics. Scientific production, including publication in international peer-reviewed journals and conferences. Organization, participation and documentation of scientific cruises involving robotic systems, including pre-cruise planning, operational procedures, mission logs and post-cruise reporting. Coordination of sensor payload integration, calibration, time synchronization, metadata collection and data-management procedures for scientific missions. Organization and participation in scientific workshops, technical meetings, stakeholder events and dissemination activities. Active engagement with scientific, technological and professional communities in ocean engineering, marine robotics and deep-sea exploration. Contribution to scientific and technological dissemination initiatives, including demonstrations, outreach actions, public communication and institutional representation.
Academic Qualifications
PhD degree in Robotics, Ocean Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Marine Technology, Computer Science, or a closely related area.
Minimum profile required
Minimum of 5 years of postdoctoral experience in R&D activities.Proven experience working with deep-water robotic systems, particularly ROVs and/or AUVs.Experience in the organization and/or participation in scientific cruises involving robotic systems.Experience in deep-water scientific exploration or monitoring, for example in biology, geology, geophysics, ecology or environmental sciences.Experience in underwater positioning, navigation, sensor integration, sensor fusion, time synchronization or georeferencing of scientific data.Experience in preparing R&D proposals for competitive national or international funding calls.Previous involvement in externally funded research projects in the area of deep-water robotics or closely related fields.Scientific track record including:at least one peer-reviewed scientific article as first author in a Q2 journal or higher;at least one peer-reviewed scientific article as co-author in a Q1 journal.Participation in at least 5 international conferences in ocean engineering, underwater robotics, marine technology, marine science instrumentation or related fields.Ability to coordinate technical activities, interact with multidisciplinary teams and contribute to project reporting and documentation.Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Preference factors
PhD thesis directly related to underwater robotics, marine robotics, deep-water systems, underwater navigation, sensor fusion or robotic systems for ocean science. Strong programming skills, preferably in Python, C/C++, MATLAB, ROS/ROS 2 or similar tools used in robotic systems. Experience with ROV/AUV payload integration, field testing, sea trials or offshore operations. Experience with underwater acoustic positioning systems such as USBL, LBL, DVL-aided navigation or INS/DVL integration. Experience with synchronization, calibration and georeferencing of heterogeneous scientific sensors. Experience with scientific data workflows, metadata standards, data repositories or FAIR data practices. Experience with sonar, optical imaging, laser scanning, hyperspectral imaging, environmental sensors or other payloads for marine science. Experience in mission planning, risk assessment, cruise logistics, operational procedures and post-cruise reporting. Experience supervising junior researchers, MSc students, PhD students or technical staff. Demonstrated capacity to lead work packages, technical teams or research tasks in collaborative projects. Experience in international collaborations, European projects or large multidisciplinary consortia. Experience in scientific dissemination, outreach, stakeholder engagement or technology transfer. Knowledge of deep-sea science applications, such as benthic habitat mapping, hydrothermal vents, submarine canyons, seamounts, geology, biodiversity monitoring or environmental impact assessment. Ability to bridge engineering and marine science communities, translating scientific requirements into robotic system specifications and operational procedures.
Application Period
Since 16 Jul 2026 to 29 Jul 2026
[Open soon]
Centre
Robotics and Autonomous Systems