[AllUsers-ISR] Research Assistant position on Social Assistive Robots at ISR - University of Coimbra

[Rui Paulo Rocha]

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Research Assistant position at ISR - Univ. of Coimbra, Portugal 

Topics: social assistive robots, object recognition, semantic mapping, 
human-robot interaction, active and healthy ageing 

Application deadline: January 30, 2024 
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SCOPE 
A Research Assistant position is available at Institute of Systems and Robotics - University of Coimbra (https://www.isr.uc.pt/), Portugal, under the supervision of Prof. Rui P. Rocha, in the scope of the project EuroAGE+ titled "International Network for Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer to Promote Active Ageing", with the ref. POCTEP-0124_EUROAGE_MAS_4_E, funded by the Interreg VI-A Spain – Portugal program (POCTEP 2021-2027). 
The EuroAGE+ project aims at fostering autonomous healthy life, mainly in elderly people but also in people with some degree of dependency, through the promotion of innovative initiatives based on ICT and specially socially assistive robots. The project involves Portugal-Spain cross-border cooperation of partners from EuroACE region, a region that covers Centro and Alentejo regions in Portugal, and Extremadura region in Spain, which is a territory in Iberian Peninsula heavily affected by the ageing of the population. The research team from ISR - University of Coimbra who participates in the EuroAGE+ project has been demonstrating and validating with elderly people the use of assistive robots as a key technology to promote active and healthy ageing, through cognitive, socio-emotional stimulation and physical activity promotion, thus contributing to quality of life enhancement and increased healthy life expectancy, mainly in the elderly population. 

OFFERED POSITION 
- Research Assistant position 
- Duration: 8 months 
- Monthly stipend: 1.199,64€ plus social security and personal accidents insurance 
- Renewal terms: although the contract cannot be renewed beyond its duration, the selected candidate demonstrating good performance will be in a favourable situation to get involved in longer-term research positions at ISR - University of Coimbra. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 
i) Holding a MSc degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, or Computer Science Engineering, or Robotics, or in a similar related area; 
ii) Being enrolled, or aiming to be enrolled, in a doctoral course leading to the PhD degree; 
iii) Having knowledge about autonomous robotic systems, computer vision, machine learning, cognitive robotics, and human-robot interaction; 
iv) Having a research profile aligned with the work plan (see its description below). 

PROFILE OF PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE 
The ideal candidate would be a highly motivated 1st year PhD student eager to develop her/his research career, having: excellent software development skills in C++, Python and Linux OS; solid formation on autonomous robotic systems, computer vision, machine learning, cognitive robotics, and human-robot interaction; solid experience in software development for mobile robots using ROS (Robot Operating System) middleware; past experience in academic/research projects related with object recognition, semantic mapping, human-robot interaction (especially through dialogue and expression), context awareness, and social assistive robots; and excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills. 

WORKPLAN 
Development of a semantic interface in a social assistive robot to promote active and healthy ageing in elderly people. The main tasks are: 
1. Object recognition (both detection and classification). 
2. SLAM encompassing both metric data and semantic data related with objects’ geometry and classification. 
3. Context awareness from perceiving human interaction with the environment and its objects. 
4. Human-robot interaction through dialogue and expression, involving the manipulation of semantic information. 
5. Implementation and testing of algorithms in a GrowMu social robot using ROS middleware and C++ and Python programming languages. 
6. Outreach of EuroAGE+ project contributions to potential end users. 

(Check https://apply.uc.pt/IT137-23-457 for more detailed information about the offered position.) 


APPLICATION PROCEDURE 
Applications must be submitted at https://apply.uc.pt/IT137-23-457 
Application deadline: ** Jan. 30, 2024 ** 

The eligible applications must include at least the following mandatory documents: 
i) Digital copy of national citizen card if Portuguese candidate, or copy of passport if foreign candidate; 
ii) Digital copy of the MSc academic degree certificate and transcripts; 
iii) Certificate of recognition of MSc academic degree in Portugal – only if the candidate holds a MSc degree not obtained in Portugal; 
iv) Curriculum Vitae (CV) including GPA for academic degrees, curricula of the BSc and MSc courses, and title of the MSc dissertation; 
v) Motivation Letter – the candidate must demonstrate that she/he fulfills all the eligibility requirements and possesses the motivation and a suitable profile for the position; 
vi) English proficiency certificate with the indication of the proficiency level using the CEFR scale or an equivalent scale – only for candidates whose mother tongue is not Portuguese nor English. 

**Important Notice**: Candidates who did not obtain their MSc degree in Portugal are obliged to present records of the equivalence/recognition of the MSc diploma in Portugal, issued by the Directorate-General for Higher Education or by a Portuguese public higher education establishment, according with the information at: 
https://www.uc.pt/en/academicos/graus/reconhecimentos 
For candidates who are still waiting for the end of this recognition process, at least a proof that a request for the diploma recognition is being processed by the Academic Services of University of Coimbra (e.g. an email from official services) should be included in the application. 


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Rui P. Rocha, PhD 
Associate Professor 
Institute of Systems and Robotics 
Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering 
University of Coimbra 
Universidade de Coimbra - Pólo II 
3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal 

E-mail: rui.rocha[at]uc.pt 
Tel.: +351 239 796 256 
Skype: rprocha 
Web: http://faculty.uc.pt/uc26413/en 
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