Open Positions in “efficient Multimodal

**Open positions in “Efficient multimodal neuromorphic perception for human-robot interaction”**
- (2300004P)

Commitment & contract: PostDoc for one/two years

Expected starting date: January 2024

Location: Genoa, Italy

**ABOUT US**

At IIT we work enthusiastically to develop human-centered Science and Technology to tackle some of the most pressing societal challenges of our times and transfer these technologies to the production system and society. Our Genoa headquarters are strictly interconnected with the other 11 centers around Italy and two outstations based in the US. We promote excellence in basic and applied research such as neuroscience and cognition, humanoid technologies and robotics, nanotechnology, materials for a truly multidisciplinary scientific experience.

**YOUR TEAM**

The research activities will be carried out under the supervision of Dr. Chiara Bartolozzi and Dr. Gaurvi Goyal. You b wille working in a multicultural and multi-disciplinary group, where computational scientists, neuromorphic engineers and robotics experts collaborate to carry out common research. The current composition of the group consists of people from 6 different countries on 3 different continents.

The EDPR Research line is coordinated by Chiara Bartolozzi, who has extensive experience in neuromorphic engineering, and event-driven sensing and perception for robots. The Neuromorphic domain is a strongly emerging alternative computing ecosystem that can provide a more sustainable option to mainstream digital computing.

The open position is part of a larger EU project that will rely on the efficiency and accuracy of neuromorphic sensing and computation and its link to the real-world dynamics through its asynchronous, event-driven nature, to support the development of the robot’s understanding of itself, of the environment and of other agents. This approach is deemed to deliver robots with human-like motor performance and interaction.

Within this broad context, we are augmenting our team of researchers, working on two main projects: Neuromorphic Human Pose Estimation and Neuromorphic Tactile Perception.

**Neuromorphic Human Pose Estimation**

**Neuromorphic Tactile Perception**

We will develop neuromorphic proprioceptive and tactile perception to support precise estimation of action timing, for precise action timing execution during physical human robot interaction.

We will develop spiking hybrid capacitive/piezoelectric tactile sensors, delivering a system level prototype with matrices of sensors based on our recently developed neuromorphic circuits, that will be integrated in the iCub robot.

We will use these sensors and neuromorphic spiking neural networks for the estimation and execution of task dynamics during physical human robot interaction, also relying on the co-activation of vision (i.e., from the tracking of human pose) and other sensory modalities such as proprioception.

**YOUR RESPOSIBILITY**

Within the team, depending on your expertise and choice between one of the two main projects, your main responsibilities will be:

- Develop spiking neural networks for human pose estimation, focusing on methods that are robust to intersectional factors and minimise training data;
- Optimize their implementation for low-latency and real-time, on neuromorphic hardware;
- Develop neuromorphic tactile sensors based on piezoelectric and capacitive transducers;
- Integrate neuromorphic tactile sensors on the iCub robot;
- Develop a method to integrate tactile, proprioceptive and visual cues to inform the robot on the task dynamics;
- Team up with the other researchers in the project to integrate all modules on the iCub robot

This research is financed by the European Commission, within the **Performance in Robot Interaction via Mental Imagery (PRIMI)** project.

**ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS**
- A PhD in computer science, engineering, robotics, or related fields
- Good skills in algorithm development, programming, and analyzing and explaining your results
- Good command in spoken and written English

**ADDITIONAL SKILLS** (though not necessary)**
- Experience on circuit design
- Knowledge of spiking neural networks and/or learning
- Background in neuromorphic engineering
- Good communication skills
- Strong problem solving attitude
- High motivation to learn
- Spirit of innovation and creativity
- Adeptness at time and priority management
- Ability to work in a challenging and international environment
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a highly interdisciplinary environment
- Excited about getting hands-on experience with humanoid robots

**COMPENSATION & BENEFITS**
- Competitive salary package for international standards
- Private health care coverage
- Wide range of staff discounts

**WHAT’S IN FOR YOU?**
- An equal, inclusive and multicultural environment ready to welcome you with open arms. Discrimination is a big NO for us
- We like contamination and encourage you to mingle and dis