Research fellow in learning foundation models for human humanoid-robot interaction
Commitment & contract: collaboration contract
Location: Genoa, Italy
Step into a world of endless possibilities, together let’s leave something for the future!
At IIT, we are committed to advancing human-centered Science and Technology to address the most urgent societal challenges of our era. We foster excellence in both fundamental and applied research, spanning fields such as neuroscience and cognition, humanoid technologies and robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and material sciences, offering a truly interdisciplinary scientific experience. Our approach integrates cutting-edge tools and technology, empowering researchers to push the limits of knowledge and innovation. With us, your curiosity will know no bounds.
We are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering diversity in all its forms, creating an inclusive environment. We value the unique experiences, knowledge, backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives of our people. By embracing diversity, we believe science can achieve its fullest potential.
THE ROLE
You will be working in a multicultural and multi-disciplinary group, where biomedical, mechanical and electrical engineers, computational scientists, physicists, chemists, biotechnologists and biologists experts collaborate, each with their own expertise, to carry out common research.
The Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence research unit is coordinated by Daniele Pucci (https://ami.iit.it/) and is seeking to appoint a fellow researcher that focuses on foundation models that combine robot modes like motion, speech, vision, tactile sensors, etc., to advance the human robot interaction features of the ergoCub humanoid robot (https://ergocub.eu/). The selected candidate will contribute to the ergoCub joint laboratory between IIT and INAIL, the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work whose goal is to safeguard workers against physical injuries and occupational diseases. You'll work in taking the cognitive intelligence for human-robot interaction of the robot ergoCub to the next level. Research will be conducted to address the fundamental societal challenges that INAIL is aiming to solve: to help reduce injuries in the workplace and facilitate the return to work of people injured at the workplace. This goal needs humanoid robots that interact with human beings, and the fellow will contribute towards this perspective. Besides the above research area, the models will also be used for the other research axes of the Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence, namely, to: give humanoid robots the ability to fly (https://ami.iit.it/aerial-humanoid-robotics), give humanoid robots the ability to help and collaborate with humans via wearables.
Within the team, your main responsibilities will be:
* Develop software applications for the Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence cutting-edge robotics research
* Prepare proof of concept software and libraries that enable generative, and more generally foundation, models to obtain a natural human-robot interaction combining several robot modes
* Support the research line activities
This open position/research is funded by INAIL within the project: “ErgoCub-2.0 - Gestione integrata, predittiva e responsabile dei profili di rischio nei nuovi contesti lavorativi ibridi: collaborazione uomo-robot e intelligenza artificiale” (CUP J53C2400054005).
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT
* Master or PhD Degree in Robotics, or Artificial Intelligence related topics;
* Knowledge of at least one of the following softwares: C++, Python
* English language skills (written and oral).
ADDITIONAL SKILL
* Experience with one of the following:
o deploying algorithms onto real Robotics system;
o Foundation models, generative models, or specific instances of them (e.g. Large Language Models);
o exteroceptive and proprioceptive sensors used to train learning algorithms
* Outstanding technical and theoretical skills
* Creative, proactive and collaborative attitude
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
* Competitive salary for international standards
* Wide range of staff discounts
Please submit your application using the online form and including a detailed CV, the list of (eventual) publications/projects, University transcripts, a cover letter outlining motivation into the project and work environment, names and contact information of at least 2 referee (maximum three).
Application’s deadline: May 10th, 2025
To discover more about life at IIT, visit the dedicated section here:https://www.iit.it/en/work-at-iit
Fill in the form below and send your application.
#J-18808-Ljbffr