Do you want to develop wearable solutions for preventing musculoskeletal injuries in factory workers performing manual tasks? Are you passionate about developing novel human-machine interfaces for highly ergonomic exosuits? The Neuro-Mechanical Modeling and Engineering Lab (http://bit.ly/NMLab) is seeking for a creative and outstanding post-doctoral fellow to work within the newly funded EU project SOPHIA. You will become part of a growing team of roboticists, biomechanists, as well as partners in machinery and automotive industries.

The H2020 SOPHIA Project seeks to realize adaptable and safe human-robot collaborative environments. Through well-tested sensing methods, modeling, and control algorithms, SOPHIA will see humans and robots working together in factory production settings. In this way, SOPHIA will remove the separation between man and machine to improve factory output. SOPHIA consortium encompasses a large international consortium of academic and industrial partners.

You will focus on workers performing locomotion and lifting tasks, who are prone to lower back and leg injuries. These injuries may be prevented if the tasks are executed with optimal body posture and with the aid of wearable assistive robots. Your tasks will include:

• Developing real-time musculoskeletal models for estimating trunk/leg joint forces and compressive loads using a small number of EMG, kinematics and force sensors
• Developing real-time models of spinal synergies and reflexes for controlling the above-mentioned musculoskeletal models, thereby reducing the number of needed EMG sensors.
• Developing real-time calibration methods for the ongoing identification of model parameters, thereby assuring high estimation accuracy across fatigue, movement artefacts and sensor damage.
• Developing novel closed-loop controllers for active trunk and leg exosuits to prevent excessive musculoskeletal loads and fatigue.
• Validating these methods in factory environments.
• Mentoring PhD students working on related topics.

• University degrees in mechanical, mechatronics, computer, electrical engineering, or closely related disciplines.
• PhD degree in neuro-musculoskeletal modelling and simulation.
• Strong experience with object-oriented programming and real-time control of exoskeletons and exosuits.
• Interpersonal, organizational and communication skills, creativity.
• Proficient in written and oral English.

Apply by December 8th, 2019 trough the button below. You can upload max 3 documents. Applications should include the following documents:

• A video (2-minute max) describing your scientific interests and why you are applying for this position.
• A cover letter (1-page max) specifying how your experience and skills match the position as well as summarizing your PhD work.
• A CV including English proficiency level, nationality, visa requirements, date of birth, experience overview, and publication list.
• Transcripts of BSc and MSc degrees.
• Contact information for at least two academic references. A support letter will be requested only if your application is considered.

Note that incomplete applications (not including cover letter, CV, video, and transcripts) will not be considered. Please, only apply via the web platform and not via email. The successful candidate ideally begins on February 1st, 2020 or as soon as possible after that date.

For questions, please contact Assoc.-Prof. Massimo Sartori, mail: m.sartori@utwente.nl.

• A fulltime (38 hours per week) postdoctoral position for a duration of 36 months.
• A starting salary of € 3255 growing to € 3514 gross per month.
• A beautiful and growing campus with sport facilities, opportunities for personal development, and driven colleagues.
• Outstanding research facilities and working environment:
• Access to the new established Neuromechanics and Wearable Robotics Labs.
• Proximity to Enschede, a mid-size city with a large social offer, embedded in the beautiful nature of the Twente region.
• Fun work atmosphere with social events such as lab retreats.

The University of Twente. We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which leads change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university of the Netherlands; divided over five faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes. We have a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out groundbreaking research.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Because of our diversity values we do particularly support women to apply.

The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) is one of the five faculties of the University of Twente. ET combines Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. Our faculty has approximately 1800 bachelor and master students, 400 employees and 150 PhD candidates. The departments of the faculty cooperatively conduct the educational programmes and participate in interdisciplinary research projects, programmes and the research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centra and Digital Society Institute.