Research Associate

Grade UE07: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum, pro rata if part time School of Informatics / College of Science and Engineering Full Time: 35 hours per week Fixed term: for 24 months The Opportunity:

Help us redefine what's possible. Be part of something bigger.

Here, you can continue to make a difference in everything around you. Take on new challenges, grow your career, be recognised for your contributions, and benefit from our commitment to your wellbeing. Be part of something bigger - where your work has real impact and your development matters. There are so many reasons to take your next step with us.

The University of Edinburgh is a world-class organisation. We look for the best in the field across all disciplines and provide a working environment where academics can develop their careers and passion for their chosen subject area. We offer the full range of academic roles and have a genuine focus on our student's performance and wellbeing.

The Role

As research associate, you will conduct research within the Statistical Machine Learning and Motor Control (SLMC) group, part of the Institute of Perception, Action and Behaviour (IPAB). You will support the team in advancing the state of the art in whole-body, multi-contact robotic manipulation, developing and combining model-based methods (e.g. trajectory optimisation, MPPI) with machine learning approaches (e.g. RL, diffusion policies) to scale and deploy multi-contact robot motions.

You will work with robotic manipulation hardware and sensing, including KUKA LBR robot arms and Kawada's Nextage NXA, and contribute to shared-autonomy methods for skilled teleoperation of robot manipulators. The role also involves collaboration and field deployment trips with project partners in Japan, alongside regular reporting on progress and results.

Desirable knowledge and experience:

• Experience mentoring undergraduate and master's students on research projects related to this research area
• Experience in robot learning techniques, such as reinforcement learning (RL) and/or flow matching and diffusion policies
• Experience in motion planning, model predictive control (MPC), and optimal control techniques such as trajectory optimisation and model predictive path integral (MPPI)
• Experience with simulation environments such as PyBullet, MuJoCo, or IsaacLab
• Experience with bi manual robotic manipulation hardware and force sensing
• Experience using ROS2 and Python

People have always been at the heart of our work. Our people are at the centre of the University community and everything we do. We value colleagues with drive, determination and a passion for what they do. We are a place where everyone is welcome and offer a range of policies and benefits designed to support you in building the right meaningful flexibility that works for you.

A career with us has a range of other benefits that can be tailored to your lifestyle:

• Opportunities to develop new skills and broaden your experience
• Leading-edge research
• Opportunities for publication
• Responsibility and autonomy

This post is full-time (35 hours per week); however, we are open to considering part time or flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on campus working.

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As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and particularly encourage applications from under representative groups.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab)

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant. Please note if the role is offered on a part time basis, it may result in sponsorship being dependent on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant or the role no longer meeting the Home Office's criteria for sponsorship.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 22 September 2026.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browser's local time zone.

Interview dates to be confirmed.