Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher

Role Description

Applications are invited for a research role on assurance cases for the decision making of highly autonomous systems. In this role, you will work on a testing method and prototype tools for simulated-situation testing of autonomous robots in a complex ground-based environment. The method takes as input a high level description of an environment and then, exploiting combinatorial testing techniques, it determines exactly which simulation runs should be performed to maximally challenge robot's ability to cope with the features of its environment. An initial implementation of the tools already exists — in this role you will adapt, improve and empirically evaluate it.

The role is funded by the Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network “SAS – Safer Autonomous Systems” within the Horizon 2020 Programme of the European Commission. SAS is a consortium of high profile universities, research institutions and companies located in Belgium, UK, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway and Ireland.      

In addition to your individual project, you will pursue further continuing education, including a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences. You will have regular contact with the other 13 researchers in the SAS ETN and their supervisors. (Please note that this training is not part of any degree programme, and will not lead to a qualification)

The post is tenable for 8 months, as long as you start by the end of February 2022.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

You will have a first undergraduate degree (and preferably a Masters) in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, or Robotics, or a closely-related discipline, along with knowledge of software engineering sufficient to engage in high quality research, and significant experience of complex programming projects.

You will need fully comply with the Marie-Curie eligibility criteria (which you must demonstrate in your application):

Early-stage researchers (ESR) are those who have, at the time of recruitment by the host, a qualification which formally entitles them to embark on a PhD in the host country and less than four years of (full-time equivalent) research experience. Measurement of research experience starts from the date when you obtained the relevant qualification.

(Any applicant who has a PhD, or is currently enrolled on one, is not eligible for this position)

(Please note this position does not include PhD enrolment - it is simply a fixed-term research position for which PhD-readiness is a prerequisite)

Conditions of international mobility of researchers: You required to undertake trans-national mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up the appointment. At the time of appointment, you must not have resided or carried out their your activity (work, studies, etc.) in the UK for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. (Short stays, such as holidays, do not count towards this)

English language: You must demonstrate that your ability to understand and express yourself in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for you to derive the full benefit from the network training.

Interview date: tbc

For informal enquiries: please contact Rob Alexander rob.alexander@york.ac.uk

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

In your application, please refer to Polytechnicpositions.com