Are you excited to contributing to the next generation of robotic technologies that advance the science for humanity? Specifically, inspection and maintenance of aging critical infrastructure is a growing challenge in today’s world and non-destructive evaluation is essential for ensuring their safety and longevity. To perform inspection without disassembly, insect-scale robots offer a compelling alternative to current solutions but realizing this potential requires rethinking sensing from the ground up, including how optical, electromagnetic, and vibrational sensing modalities can be miniaturised, integrated, and co-designed with robotic mechanics, electronics, and attachment strategies.
Your research will involve a combination of sensor development, system integration, and experimental validation on insect-scale robotic platforms. The exact balance between theory, design, and experimentation will be shaped by the candidate’s background and interests, but the core technical focus will be on enabling robust nondestructive evaluation under extreme SWaP constraints.
Key research activities may include:
- Design and characterisation of miniature sensing mechanisms for NDE, including optical, electromagnetic (e.g. impedance or eddy-current-based), and vibrational sensing approaches
- Onboard integration of sensors into insect-scale robots, including packaging, power delivery, signal conditioning, and data acquisition
- Co-design of sensing, attachment, and manipulation, leveraging mechanisms such as electroadhesion and compliant structures to stabilise sensing and improve measurement quality
You will have hands-on experience in microrobotics, sensing systems, electronics integration, and experimental robotics, and gain strong transferable skills in interdisciplinary research and system-level design. Additionally, you must be flexible and proactive within a fast-paced environment with the ability to consider both short- and long-term process improvements and service provision.
- The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
- The opportunity to collaborate with research partners in the USA and Europe.
- Grow your career: gain access to Imperial’s sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
- Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
- Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.
This is a fixed term, fullterm contract for 12 months in the first instance.
- Please note, if you are yet to complete your PhD, you will be appointed at research assistant level £43,863 - £47,223)
If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Kaushik Jayaram, [email protected].
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.
Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.
