Thematic and research challenges

The scope of the position is on human-robot collaboration and its different dimensions in order to enhance synergy with emerging technologies for smart environments. The objective resides in leveraging human user interaction with robot learning so as to increase robustness and efficiency of collaboratively performed tasks, typically concerning the use of objects and, more globally, those requiring physical interaction.

This requires to address problems at different components of a human-robot system architecture, such as in terms of incremental and life-long learning, learning from demonstration, safety, sharing of authority or recovery from failures. Treating these questions yields different paradigms or applications of human-robot collaboration that can span assistive home robots for novice users that operate in smart houses, up to industrial robots for professional users that operate in smart factories. By extension, the problem of multi-robot collaboration falls under the same scope via the reinforcement of the role of artificial intelligence.

Research in the aforementioned areas is expected to identify the similarities and differences of each application domain and promote innovative solutions in Digital Twin and Industry 5.0 technologies.

Eco-system and context

IMT Atlantique is an internationally recognized institution for the quality of its research. It is a leading technological university under the authority of the French Ministry of Industry and Digital Technologies, ranked in the three main international rankings (THE, SHANGHAI, QS).

The position is open in the campus of Brest within the Computer Science department and hosted within the RAMBO team of Lab-sticc.

IMT Atlantique has privileged relationships with major industrial national and international partners, as well as a dense network of SMEs, start-ups, and innovation networks. With 290 permanent faculty members, 2000 students among which 300 PhD students, IMT Atlantique produces every year 1000+ publications and raises 18M€ of research funding.

Education

The education program of IMT Atlantique has been recognized as amongst the most innovative in French High Education and Research and offers large possibilities of developing innovative engineering curriculum and educational approach.

The candidate will contribute to different cursus (engineer, master of science), both in his/her specialty (Artificial Intelligence, Robotics) and common core courses or transversal activities linked to the socio-economic world : tutoring of projects / internships, defenses, coaching, etc. He/she will be invited to propose new projects, programs and related pedagogical methodologies, particularly inspired and supported by industrial and partnership. 

Expected competences

Please read carefully the mandatory and expected qualities of candidates for Associate Professor positions at IMT Atlantique at the following address:

https://www.imt-atlantique.fr/en/about/job-offers?arg=7767_2_8158

In the case of this open position, a special and complementary emphasis will be put on the candidates’ skills in the fields of human-robot collaboration, human-robot interaction, robot learning, planning, control and artificial intelligence.

Deadline for applications: March 31st, 2023, 11:59 pm Paris time

Date of the recruitment interview: May 2023

Starting date: 2nd semester 2023

Documents to apply

• Application file to download HERE
• CV + cover letter
• integration project on the 3 axes Teaching / Research / Development
• photocopy of identity card or passport
• photocopy of diplomas or a certificate of success
• report of the thesis defense
• reports from the two thesis jurors
• any other element that could support your application

Contact

For any further information, please contact:

Thierry Duval, head of the computer science department

thierry.duval@imt-atlantique.fr – phone: +33 2 29 00 14 67

Panagiotis Papadakis, co-leader of the RAMBO team

panagiotis.papadakis@imt-atlantique.fr – phone: +33 2 29 00 16 30

https://sites.google.com/site/pgpapadakis

Benefits

• 49 days of annual leave
• Possibility working at home
• Public transportation paid for
• Sustainable mobility package (for carpooling or cycling)
• Family supplement
• Wide range of social benefits

Legal mentions

• Nature of the contract: Permanent contract under public law
• Geographical location: IMT Atlantique - 655 Av. du Technopôle, 29280 Plouzané, FRANCE
• The positions offered for recruitment are open to all with, on request, accommodations for candidates with disabilities