Postdoctoral Researcher in Control Engineering

Location: Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PJ

About the role

We are seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher in Control Engineering at the Department of Engineering Science (central Oxford). The post is funded by Amazon Robotics and is fixed-term for one year, with the possibility of an extension.

The postdoctoral researcher will work on a project that aims to improve decision-making in large mobile-robot fleets through learning-based corrections to an existing fleet-control system, while providing certified bounds on changes to closed-loop behaviour. The research will combine data-driven control, reinforcement and multi-agent learning, decentralised decision-making, online adaptation and local safety certification, with validation on warehouse-management benchmarks.

The postholder will be a member of the Oxford Control Group and will develop new control architectures for lifelong multi-robot operation, using state-of-the-art parametrisations of stabilising controllers, data-driven control and multi-agent reinforcement learning. The postholder will also provide guidance to junior members of the research group, including research assistants, PhD students and project volunteers.

About you

The candidate should possess a relevant PhD/DPhil (or be near completion*), together with relevant experience and sufficient specialist knowledge and research experience on optimization-based control of dynamical systems. You should have experience and expertise in data-driven algorithms for control synthesis and verification, with applications to robotics. You should have the ability to manage own academic research and associated activities, with previous experience of contributing to publications/presentations and ability to contribute ideas for new research projects and research income generation. You should have excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings.

*Please note that ‘near completion’ means that your PhD thesis has been submitted and your viva has been held.

What we offer

At the University of Oxford your happiness and wellbeing at work is important to us. We have a number of generous benefits including 38 days' annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays and fixed closure days), generous pension schemes and free access to the Oxford colleges. The other benefits on offer can be found here: Staff benefits 

How to apply

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment system and should include the covering letter/supporting statement (describing how you meet the criteria), a CV, and names of two academic references.

The position is a full-time fixed term post available for 12 months. 

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Tuesday 01 September. 

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof. Luca Furieri (email: luca.furieri@eng.ox.ac.uk)

Further information can be found at  Department of Engineering Science | University of Oxford

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in academic posts in Oxford. The Department is committed to equality and valuing diversity and holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting gender equality in academia. The University is a Living Wage Employer, holds an Athena Swan Silver Award, an HR Excellence in Research and a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award and is a Stonewall Diversity Champion. Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we seek to create a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through our EDI Committee, working groups and networks, for example  eng.ox.ac.uk/women-in-engineering, as well as a number of family friendly policies.

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