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We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

We are seeking an experienced researcher to lead the development of decentralised swarm mapping and localisation algorithms for underground pipe operations as part of an international research programme funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The programme is developing machine intelligence for teams of autonomous robots working in buried water infrastructure.

You will lead the design of methods that enable robot swarms to explore pipe networks, share information, support anomaly detection, and coordinate reporting and dispatch decisions in environments with limited communication, sensing and power. The role also includes validating these methods through simulations and physical robot experiments. The development of uncertainty aware methods, such as Gaussian processes with learning capabilities is essential, including data association and other Bayesian methods.

You will join a collaborative research environment at the University of Sheffield, working across the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Centre for Machine Intelligence and Sheffield Robotics with international partners including TU Darmstadt, MIT and Boston University. There is an opportunity for extensive international travel to work closely with our overseas partners and to present research to peers at key international conferences. You will help translate ambitious ideas into robust algorithms and convincing experimental demonstrations. You will also contribute to the strategic direction of this research area, support publications and project coordination, and help develop future funding applications and collaboration opportunities.

We are looking for someone with a PhD in robotics, computer science, control, AI or a closely related field, and a strong background in swarm robotics, multi-robot systems or distributed autonomous systems. You should be able to work with a high degree of independence, contribute to collaborative leadership, and develop innovative solutions to technically challenging problems.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Lead the development of novel decentralised swarm algorithms for mapping in underground pipe operations, with particular focus on exploration, collective decision-making, information sharing, reporting and robot navigation.

• Develop sensor data fusion algorithms that are an essential element of the joint robot mapping tasks in the presence of data origin uncertainties. Knowledge of Bayesian approaches such as Gaussian process regression, particle filters, Bayesian networks, graph-based approaches. Probabilistic -based uncertainty quantification is also essential.

• Lead the design, implementation and evaluation of bio-inspired, optimisation-based and machine-learning-enabled methods that enable robot teams to operate under constraints on communication, sensing, computation and power.

• Lead the development and maintenance of high-quality research software for simulation, computer vision-based algorithms (with optical videos, Lidar and other data), testing and deployment on robotic platforms, using reproducible and well-documented development practices.

• Develop centralised and decentralised algorithms for the swarm of robots performing underground inspections.

• Lead the planning and delivery of simulation studies and laboratory experiments to validate swarm algorithms, including coordinating their integration with related mapping, sensing and robotic platform activities across the wider programme.

• Lead the analysis and interpretation of simulation and experimental data, using the findings to direct method refinement and inform project priorities, research decisions and longer-term development.

• Determine research objectives and develop, implement and adapt a programme of research in line with project aims, milestones and emerging opportunities.

• Contribute to the strategic direction and day-to-day coordination of this area of research, including planning work over several months ahead to meet project deadlines, publication targets and collaboration milestones.

• Work closely with academic staff, research colleagues and international partners, including international visits to support delivery of shared research objectives, project outputs and reports.

• Prepare high-quality publications for leading journals and conferences, and present findings to academic, industry and other stakeholder audiences.

• Supervise or co-supervise undergraduate and postgraduate project students and, where appropriate, contribute to the support or day-to-day guidance of research staff working in related areas.

• Contribute to the development of research proposals and funding applications, identify opportunities for follow-on funding, and support the growth of research partnerships and impact activity.

• Contribute to the effective management of research resources, including time, equipment, materials, data and project-related budgets, in line with funder and University requirements.

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in July 2026. This will consist of a presentation and an interview. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process, you can contact Amanda Burnett on eee-operations@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.