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General Description

Salary: $33-$43 Per Hour

PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.

RESEARCH TITLE

Robotics Research Engineer (2025-2026)

JOB DESCRIPTION

NIST is seeking a self-motivated researcher with experience using high dexterity, multi-finger robot hands. The selected candidate will contribute to projects focused on the research and development of methods for benchmarking robotic grasping and manipulation. The work will include research with multiple commercial robotic grasp-type end-effectors, integration of force sensors at the fingertip, performance testing focused on high-dexterity capabilities such as 'in-hand manipulation' and 'finger force sensitivity', and forward thinking experimentation and evaluation of new technologies in the field of grasping and manipulation.

EXPECTATIONS/RESPONSABILITIES

-         The researcher is expected to be able to work independently.

-         They must be able to communicate their goals, needs, and project updates clearly.

-         They will be expected to document their work well and be prepared to present findings.

-         They will conduct experiments, analyze data, and report/document results through technical publications.

Note: This position has the potential for consideration for full-time employment pursuant to the candidate possessing the proper qualifications and the availability of funds.

More information about the NIST robotics program and the grasping and manipulation work can be found here:

https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/measurement-science-robotics-and-autonomous-systems

https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/grasping-manipulation-and-contact-safety-performance-robotic-systems

Information about the NIST PREP program can be found here:

https://www.nist.gov/iaao/academic-affairs-office/professional-research-experience-program

Qualifications

Required experience:

-         Strong background in robotics and engineering.

-         Proficiency in sensor integration, signal processing, and data analysis with robotic systems

-         Knowledge of tactile sensing principals and current state-of-the-art technology

-         Programming in Python, C++ or equivalent.

-         Experience with ROS/ROS2 and MoveIt

Preferred experience:

-         Machine learning techniques for force sensing

-         Experience in simulation environments such as IsaacSim, Gazeebo, etc.

-         Strong communication and technical writing skills

Application Instructions

Please upload the following with your application:

-         CV/Resume

-         2 professional references

*Please limit C.V to 3 pages only and ONLY include a valid email address for your contact info. Please DO NOT include telephone numbers, home address or photos on your resume.

Privacy Act Statement

Authority:  15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)

Purpose:  The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the  Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.  

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses:  NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices:  NIST-1: NIST Associates. 

Disclosure:  Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.

About Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University remains committed to its founding principle, that education for all students should be grounded in exploration and discovery. Hopkins students are challenged not just to learn but also to advance learning itself. Critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and entrepreneurship are all encouraged and nourished in this unique educational environment. After more than 130 years, Johns Hopkins remains a world leader in both teaching and research. Faculty members and their research colleagues at the university's Applied Physics Laboratory have each year since 1979 won Johns Hopkins more federal research and development funding than any other university. The university has nine academic divisions and campuses throughout the Baltimore-Washington area. The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering, the School of Education and the Carey Business School are based at the Homewood campus in northern Baltimore. The schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing share a campus in east Baltimore with The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Peabody Institute, a leading professional school of music, is located on Mount Vernon Place in downtown Bal...timore. The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies is located in Washington's Dupont Circle area.

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