Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Mission Planning for Underwater Gliders

We are looking for a post-doctoral research assistant to join the GOALS group
(http://ori.ox.ac.uk/labs/goals/ ) within the Oxford Robotics Institute (ORI).
The role is part of a NERC-funded project in the call “TWINE demonstrators:
digital twins for environmental science”. This project will develop a digital
twin (DT) of the ocean, and close the loop between this DT and the control of
an autonomous underwater vehicle (a Slocum Glider) which provides data for the
DT. The GOALS group will develop the planning algorithms and software to
direct the glider’s mission to achieve scientific goals, such as observing
areas of the ocean which are poorly modelled in the DT. The post is fixed term
for 15 months.







The successful applicant will develop, evaluate, and deploy algorithms for
planning under uncertainty for ocean gliders. They must be familiar with
Markov decision processes (MDPs) and algorithms for planning or learning
within them. This should ideally include sample-based planning algorithms such
as Monte Carlo tree search, or heuristic search algorithms, for MDPs.
Familiarity with ocean gliders, or other mobile robots, is not required, but
we are seeking an applicant with enthusiasm for applying decision-making
algorithms to systems that are deployed in the real world, and tackling the
challenges that this inevitably brings.





You should hold a relevant PhD/DPhil or be near completion together with
relevant experience. You should also possess knowledge in decision-making
under uncertainty, including experience working on decision-making or planning
with Markov decision processes.





Informal enquiries may be addressed to Nick Hawes (nickh@robots.ox.ac.uk).



For more information about working at the Department, see
www.eng.ox.ac.uk/about/work-with-us/





Only online applications received before midday on the 19th January 2024 can
be considered. You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting
statement, including a brief statement of research interests (describing how
past experience and future plans fit with the advertised position), a CV, and
the details of two referees as part of your online application.





The Oxford Robotics Institute is dedicated to fostering a diverse and
inclusive environment that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds. The
Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to
promoting women in Science, Engineering and Technology.