Postdoctoral Researcher in Human-Robot Interaction and Control

Join AIST to advance human-robot interaction, physical AI, and robotic control technologies in Tokyo.

Best for:Best for robotics researchers with expertise in human-robot interaction, robot control, and machine learning.

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology · Tokyo, Japan · R2 · Recognised researcher

More professors at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Human-Robot InteractionRobot ControlPhysical AISkill LearningTeleoperation

This is a postdoc position — not a PhD studentship.

Deadline

Until filled

rolling

Funding

Salaried

JPY 2.5k–JPY 2.7k/hr

Start date

As early as possible after April 1, 2027

Fixed-term

Location

Tokyo

Japan

Overview

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) is seeking a dedicated Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Intelligent Systems Research Department. The successful candidate will focus on human-robot interaction, teleoperation, bidirectional skill learning between humans and robots, collaborative tasks, and physical AI systems. Working within the Task Intelligence Robotics Research Group in Tokyo, the researcher will develop innovative control strategies and operating interfaces. Applicants are expected to conduct high-impact research, collaborate closely with team members, and drive advancements in intelligent robotic systems.

PostdocRoboticsHuman-Robot InteractionAIControl EngineeringAIST

What you'll do

Conduct research and development in human-robot interaction, focusing on bidirectional skill transfer and collaborative tasks.
Design and implement advanced robot control algorithms and operating interfaces.
Build physical AI architectures to enhance human physical capabilities and support cooperative work.
Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present outcomes at international academic conferences.
Collaborate with research staff and project members on integrated robotics initiatives.

Requirements

Degree required: PhD in a relevant discipline such as Engineering, Information Science, Science, Psychology, or Medicine

Language: Japanese or English; smooth communication skills required

Instruction: Japanese and English

Publications: Strong research achievements in the field of human-robot interaction

Required skills

Demonstrated research background and academic output in human-robot interaction
Proficiency in robot control, interface development, or AI construction
Ability to communicate effectively in either Japanese or English

Nice to have

Experience in controlling high-degree-of-freedom robots such as humanoidsExperience with robot motion learning techniques including reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and vision-language-action models

Eligibility

Must hold a PhD degree obtained within the last 7 years at the time of hiring
Must have less than 5 years of cumulative employment history in the same job category at AIST

Funding & terms

Type

Salaried

Amount

JPY 2.5k–JPY 2.7k/hr

Duration

Fixed-term until March 31, 2028 (with possible renewals up to March 31, 2031)

Programme

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

How to apply

Deadline: 2026-11-30 · open until filled

Prepare the required application documents including your CV, achievement list, proof of doctoral degree, and research summary. Submit the application materials electronically via email to the designated contact address before the deadline.

Documents required