Worcester Polytechnic Institute · 1 month ago
Research Associate
Worcester
Full-time
Onsite
Mid Level
$60K/yr - $60K/yrWorcester Polytechnic Institute is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead the design, prototyping, and control of a bio-inspired robotic gate system. The role involves mechanical design, actuation strategies, and intelligent control for real-world deployment, along with responsibilities in research dissemination and team leadership.
CommunitiesEducationHigher EducationSTEM Education
Responsibilities
Develop innovative bio-inspired concepts for a robotic gate mechanism that can block or allow traffic dynamically
Perform structural and dynamic analysis to ensure reliability and safety
Fabricate and assemble robotic gate prototypes using advanced manufacturing techniques
Integrate sensors, actuators, and control hardware for autonomous operation
Implement control algorithms for adaptive opening/closing based on environmental and user inputs
Test and validate system performance under various conditions
Publish research findings in top-tier journals and present at conferences
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and mentor graduate students
Lead a group of students performing sub-tasks
Develop strong communication and collaboration among group members
Expand research to novel directions and assist in grant applications
Qualification
Required
Ph.D. in Robotics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
Strong background in linkage mechanisms, robotic design, actuation, and control systems
Proficiency in programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB, ROS) and hardware integration
Hands-on experience with prototyping and deploying embedded robotic systems
Preferred
Knowledge of bio-inspired mechanisms and adaptive systems
Experience with soft robotics or compliant structures
Familiarity with safety standards for automated systems
Company
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
WPI is a private technological university that offers research facilities and a community of students and members.
Founded in 1865
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Worcester Polytechnic Institute has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
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Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (23)
2024 (17)
2023 (15)
2022 (18)
2021 (24)
2020 (21)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$63.43MKey Investors
National Science FoundationUS Department of EnergyARPA-E
2025-07-25Grant· $0.4M
2024-09-26Grant· $1M
2024-08-21Grant· $2M
Leadership Team
Beth Phalen
Member Board Of Trustees
Cynthia J. Pellegrino
Director of Human Resources
Recent News
WBJournal.com
2026-01-17
2025-11-12
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