National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Research Associate in the Sensorimotor Augmentation for Human-Robot Collaboration

The University of Manchester
Whitehaven
8 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE (DATA SCIENCE) (LONDON)

Data Scientist

Artificial Intelligence Engineer - Agentic bioimage data platform

Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Developer / Engineer

Natural Capital Data Scientist

We are looking for a full-time post-doctoral research associate to investigate human-robot collaboration to explore unstructured environments for inspection, repair, and maintenance. You will conduct research on designing artificial feedback to humans, whether they are remotely operating a robot or collaborating closely with one in a proximal setting. The robot’s perception about surroundings through multi-sensory feedback will be transmitted naturally to human operators to augment their situational awareness and facilitate their motor control. You will work with physical robot platforms and develop a feedback interface integrating human natural sensory and robot’s artificial information. This will encompass mechatronics design, system integration, robotic control, computer vision algorithms, and conducting user studies. You will be expected to publish at world-leading refereed conferences and journals, and demonstrate research outcomes on real robot platforms.

The role will also require regular contributions to a variety of academic tasks, including positively interacting and communicating with internal and external stakeholders, developing research proposals, management of research projects, supervising PhD, Master and undergraduate students, demonstrating research excellence and leadership to more junior members in the research lab.

Key Responsibilities

Main Duties:

Develop feedback interface to transmit useful information that is beyond human natural sensory channels. Design robot environment perception algorithms with multi-sensory feedback. Investigate optimal form of sensory feedback for human-robot collaborative exploration of unstructured environments. Develop robotic navigation and control algorithms. Implement algorithms into robotic systems for real-time execution. Work on the project deliverables through independent research and joint collaboration. Publish at world-leading refereed conferences and journals. Actively participate in the research programme of the Lab. Conduct and plan own scientific work proactively with appropriate supervision. Maintain accurate and complete records of all findings and experimental work, and full backup of research resources in the Lab facilities.

Other Duties:

Direct the work of small research teams. Ensure the validity and reliability of research results and data. Write reports for submission to stakeholders. Present findings to colleagues and at relevant workshops and conferences as necessary. Develop contacts and research collaborations within the University and the international partners. Assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students and other lab members as required. Contribute to bids for research grants. Participate in Lab research meetings and internal seminars. Undertake any necessary training, safety courses and/or development. Undertake appropriate administration tasks. Contribute to the smooth running of the Lab’s facilities with other researchers, technicians and students.

Location and Facility: 

The successful applicant will join in The University of Manchester’s team at RAICo One Facility in West Cumbria. The applicant will have a unique opportunity to work in close partnership with robotics, control and AI experts from the University of Manchester, Sellafield Ltd and the UK Atomic Energy Authority, applying their knowledge and research work into real applications. RAICo One is a fully equipped robotics laboratory with state-of-the-art robotic research and development facilities including a wide range of robotic systems and robot test arenas.

This post is offered on a 2-year fixed-term appointment with potential extension.

The closing date for applications is: 08/12/2024. 

What you will get in return:

Fantastic market leading Pension scheme Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays Additional paid closure over the Christmas period Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers
National AI Awards 2025

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How to Present AI Models to Non-Technical Audiences: A Public Speaking Guide for Job Seekers

In today’s competitive job market, AI professionals are expected to do more than just build brilliant algorithms—they must also explain them clearly to stakeholders who may have no technical background. Whether you're applying for a role as a machine learning engineer, data scientist, or AI consultant, your ability to articulate complex models in simple terms is fast becoming one of the most valued soft skills in interviews and on the job. This guide will help you master the art of public speaking for AI roles, offering tips on structuring presentations, designing effective slides, and using storytelling to make your work resonate with any audience.

AI Jobs UK 2025: 50 Companies Hiring Now

Bookmark this guide – we refresh it every quarter so you always know who’s really scaling their artificial‑intelligence teams. Artificial intelligence hiring has roared back in 2025. The UK’s boosted National AI Strategy funding, record‑breaking private investment (£18.1 billion so far) & a fresh wave of generative‑AI product launches mean employers are jockeying for data scientists, ML engineers, MLOps specialists, AI product managers, prompt engineers & applied researchers. Below are 50 organisations that have advertised UK‑based AI vacancies in the past eight weeks or formally announced growth plans. They’re grouped into five easy‑scan categories so you can jump straight to the kind of employer – & culture – that suits you. For each company you’ll find: Main UK hub Example live or recent vacancy Why it’s worth a look (tech stack, culture, mission) Use the internal links to browse current vacancies on ArtificialIntelligenceJobs.co.uk – or set up a free job alert so fresh roles land in your inbox.

Return-to-Work Pathways: Relaunch Your AI Career with Returnships, Flexible & Hybrid Roles

Stepping back into the workplace after a career break can feel like embarking on a whole new journey—especially in a cutting-edge field such as artificial intelligence (AI). For parents and carers, the challenge isn’t just refreshing your technical know-how but also securing a role that respects your family commitments. Fortunately, the UK’s tech sector now boasts a wealth of return-to-work programmes—from formal returnships to flexible and hybrid opportunities. These pathways are designed to bridge the gap, equipping you with refreshed skills, confidence and a supportive network. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover how to: Understand the booming demand for AI talent in the UK Leverage transferable skills honed during your break Overcome common re-entry challenges Build your AI skillset with targeted training Tap into returnship and re-entry programmes Find flexible, hybrid and full-time AI roles that suit your lifestyle Balance professional growth with caring responsibilities Master applications, interviews and networking Whether you’re returning after maternity leave, eldercare duties or another life chapter, this article will equip you with practical steps, resources and insider tips.