Postdoctoral Associate - Control/Sim/RL

Drexel University•Philadelphia, PA

11d•$60,240 - $90,350•Onsite

About The Position

A postdoctoral position in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics is being offered to support research in bio-inspired underwater robotics, with a focus on the development of advanced modeling and control strategies for multi-limbed swimming systems. The postdoctoral researcher will work closely with experimental underwater robotic systems and contribute to improving the understanding and performance of these systems under realistic operating conditions. This position is grant-funded; employment is contingent upon the continued availability of those funds.

Requirements

Minimum of a PhD or Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering or related field or the equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Minimum of 0-3 years of experience.

Nice To Haves

Expertise in high-fidelity dynamic simulation (e.g., MuJoCo, Simscape), with emphasis on underwater or fluid-interacting systems.
Proficiency in Python and MATLAB for control development and data analysis.
Experience applying reinforcement learning to control of nonlinear, multi-DoF robotic systems, particularly in locomotion or underwater contexts.
Familiarity with CAD and hardware–simulation integration workflows.
Experience with robotic hardware and sensing systems is desirable.
Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 is a plus.

Responsibilities

Supervise undergraduate and graduate student research related to underwater bio-robotic swimmers, providing guidance on modeling, control development, and experimental validation.
Contribute to the preparation of research proposals, present findings at conferences and technical meetings, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
Other duties as assigned