Doctoral Researcher in Humanoid Robotics, 3D Perception and Embodied AI
Develop advanced 3D perception and learning-based control algorithms for autonomous humanoid manufacturing.
Best for:Best for robotics and computer vision engineers with a strong background in Python, PyTorch, and machine learning for physical systems.
Overview
The Advanced Manufacturing Lab at ETH Zurich invites applications for a doctoral research position focusing on humanoid robotics, 3D perception, and embodied artificial intelligence. Under the leadership of Prof. Markus Bambach and Dr. Jan Petrik, the candidate will investigate novel approaches to enable robots to perceive, understand, and interact with complex manufacturing environments using next-generation RGB-D sensing. The role involves designing simulation pipelines, developing semantic perception algorithms, and validating methods on physical robotic platforms. The successful candidate will combine rigorous scientific experimentation with collaborative software development and academic publishing.
What you'll do
- Conduct independent scientific research in humanoid robotics, 3D perception, and learning-based robotic systems.
- Develop and evaluate novel algorithms for RGB-D-based object detection, semantic segmentation, and 3D scene understanding.
- Design and implement realistic robotic simulation environments and synthetic data generation pipelines for manufacturing applications.
- Investigate and implement simulation-to-real transfer methods to bridge the gap between virtual training and physical execution.
- Integrate perception algorithms with robotic manipulation, motion planning, and control frameworks.
- Implement, test, and validate developed methods on physical robotic and humanoid platforms.
- Publish research findings in leading international robotics, computer vision, and machine learning conferences and journals.
- Collaborate with academic researchers and industrial partners while assisting with student project supervision.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, or a closely related field
Degree offered: PhD
Language: Fluent English, both written and spoken
Instruction: English
Publications: Previous research experience demonstrated through a Master's thesis, projects, or publications is advantageous
- Strong foundation in robotics, computer vision, machine learning, or related computational methods
- Excellent programming skills in Python and preferably C++
- Experience with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch for model development and evaluation
- Solid understanding of robotics fundamentals including kinematics, motion planning, or manipulation
- Practical experience in at least one area such as 3D computer vision, robot perception, simulation, or robot learning
- Familiarity with Linux-based development environments, Git, and collaborative software practices
- Ability to independently investigate challenging research questions and systematically evaluate solutions
- Must fulfill ETH Zurich's doctoral admission requirements
Funding & terms
How to apply
Prepare all required application documents including your CV, motivation letter, transcripts, and master's thesis. Submit your complete application exclusively through the ETH Zurich online application portal. Applications sent via email or postal services will not be considered.
- CV
- Motivation letter
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Master's thesis or previous research summary
Contact
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