IIT - Tenure-Track Position in Innovative and Deployable Robotic Solutions for Complex Industrial Challenges (Endowed by Intellimech Bergamo)

Start Thu, 13 Feb 2025 End Tue, 13 May 2025

Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) is pleased to announce a new tenure-track opening (open rank).

IIT is seeking a highly motivated, independent, and innovative researcher to join its community of scientists engaged in advanced research and development. Candidates must be creative thinkers capable of transcending traditional scientific boundaries.

IIT has state-of-the-art facilities and has rapidly established itself among top research institutes worldwide. IIT has a strongly international character, with more than 30% of the scientific staff coming from over 70 countries worldwide.

The new tenure-track scientist will be scientifically and financially independent (i.e., independent principal investigator) and will enjoy world-class start-up and operational funding, as well as internationally competitive salary and benefits. IIT also strongly encourages and assists its scientists in expanding their research scope by obtaining independent external support from national, European and international funding agencies.

Hiring procedures of IIT are based solely on scientific and technology transfer credentials, and our search committees include external members from foreign institutions to provide diverse, independent perspectives. We encourage non-Italians and Italians, both abroad and in Italy, to apply.

IIT is looking for candidates with outstanding track records in:

Innovative and Deployable Robotic Solutions for Complex Industrial Challenges

Recent breakthroughs in robotics and artificial intelligence have showcased unprecedented capabilities at the level of prototypical systems. However, the translation of prototypes into economically viable products and services in complex, dynamic, and unstructured real-world application scenarios, is still a challenge. To improve the daily lives of citizens, robotics needs to further develop and deploy theory and, correspondingly, robust engineering methods. Real and ever-changing application scenarios necessitate a continuous cycle of scientific and technological innovation. This requires not only pushing the boundaries of research, but also translating these advancements into robotic technology that stand the challenge of the real-world application.

To accomplish this mission successfully, the ideal candidate should demonstrate, via a solid track record, to have: i) produced disruptive research results (as evidenced by top-level scientific publications and patents), ii) matured research results into higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 6-7) (as evidenced by deployment in industrially relevant environments and in real-world challenges and/or expeditions), and iii) generated economically viable and socially sustainable outcomes (as evidenced by patents, licensed know-how and entrepreneurial added value through spin-off companies).

The successful candidate will run an independent research program and work in close collaboration with the research units located at the IIT Center for Robotics and Intelligent Systems in Genoa, Italy. They will also coordinate research at the JOiiNT laboratory in Bergamo, where IIT and Intellimech, a consortium of companies and institutions, jointly pursue technology transfer projects in the dynamic Bergamo industrial environment. The Intellimech consortium co-funds the research program with financial and material resources.

Candidates should have a strong and highly visible profile in one or more of the following research and technology transfer areas:

• Developing flexible robotic and automation technologies to enable agile manufacturing and reduce barriers to automation, particularly for SMEs.
• Realizing robotic systems capable of operating in remote hazardous or hard-to-access environments.
• Contributing to the ideation, design, and prototyping of novel robotic technologies. This includes, for example, the design of full robotic systems (rigid or soft) that include bespoke hardware, actuators, end-effectors, etc.
• Demonstrating expertise in applying and deploying the developed robotic systems in solving real-world scenarios.
• Proven experience in implementing and leading technology transfer projects in collaboration with industrial partners.
• Demonstrated capability in creating and leveraging intellectual property through patenting, licensing, and entrepreneurship.

While the above competences are essential for the Principal Investigator, we encourage a cross-domain approach that facilitates knowledge transfer, drives transformative advancements, and maximizes the overall impact.

REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION

Candidates should hold a PhD degree and relevant postdoctoral experience, as well as an excellent international record of academic achievements (publications, invited lectures, awards, etc.) in engineering or related fields with a specialization in robotics. The candidate is required to show excellent scientific achievements as well as technology validation in real world scenarios (not limited to simulations and laboratory prototypes), and is expected to provide evidence of independent research, potential to lead a world-class research group and ability to acquire research funding. The candidate must also have excellent experience in technology transfer activities, including patenting, licensing, establishment of start-ups, development of high TRL products, and leadership of collaborative tech-transfer projects with industrial companies.

To apply for the position candidates should submit a single PDF file containing:

1. C.V., including list of published papers (with evidence of the 5 most representative publications), patents, and research grants directly awarded to the candidate (as principal investigator or work-package coordinator);
2. 3-page research statement containing a summary of previous research contributions and a description of plans for future work.

Candidates should upload applications at http://tenure.iit.it

Applicants should also provide names and contact information of three references, familiar with the applicant’s research accomplishments, to prepare letters of recommendation. For junior faculty applicants, the references will usually include the applicant’s PhD and postdoctoral advisor(s).

The reference letters must be directly uploaded by their authors on the candidate’s application page and will be made visible to the candidate.

Please note that the system allows candidates to submit complete applications only (i.e.: evaluation package and referees’ contact details). Partially completed applications or registrations will not be considered.

Deadline for submission of applications is May 13 2025

Deadline for submission of reference letters is May 19 2025

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview in early Summer 2025.

For further information about our Tenure Track, please send an email to tenuretrack@iit.it

For information about IIT in general please visit http://www.iit.it/

For information about careers and working conditions at IIT please visit https://www.iit.it/en/work-at-iit 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Please note that the data you provide for this application will be exclusively used to evaluate and select professional profiles and meet the requirements of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia.

Your data will be processed by Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, based in Genoa, Via Morego 30, acting as the Data Controller, in compliance with the rules on the protection of personal data, including those related to data security.

Please also note that, pursuant to articles 15 et. seq. of European Regulation no. 679/2016 (General Data Protection Regulation), you may at any time exercise your rights by contacting the Data Protection Officer (phone +39 010 28961 - email: dpo[at]iit.it).

IIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively seeks and promotes diversity of its workforce.