Research Fellow in Robotic Sensing and Control

Location: Leeds - Main Campus

Working time: 37.5 hours per week

Contract type: Fixed term (Up to 15 Months, to end by 30th November 2027 - to complete specific time limited work)

Downloads: Candidate Brief (PDF)

Would you like to be part of an ambitious new robotics project tackling invasive species in critical national infrastructure? Do you have a background in robotics? Are you motivated by applying advanced robotic systems to real‑world environmental challenges?

As a key member of the Real Robotics Lab, you will lead the development of innovative robotic concepts, systems, and software for deployment in challenging water infrastructure environments. The Real Robotics Lab manages over £3 million in current research projects, including robotics for infrastructure inspection and repair, advanced robot design and fabrication, and autonomous systems for environmental resilience.

This role forms part of an ARIA Opportunity Seed within the Engineering Ecosystem Resilience programme. The programme aims to explore bold, unconventional approaches to strengthening the resilience of ecological and engineered systems across the UK.

You will design, implement, and test early stage robotic approaches for detecting and removing invasive zebra mussels inside raw water transfer pipelines and related submerged infrastructure. Working closely with project partners, you will contribute to sensing and modelling studies, hardware and software development, systems integration, and early feasibility demonstrations, delivering rapid prototypes and benchtop trials aligned with ARIA’s fast paced, exploratory R&D model.

This role will be based on the University campus, with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr George Jackson-Mills, Doctor of Robotics for Inspection and Maintenance

Email:

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information, please visit the Government’s Skilled Worker visa page.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information, please visit the Government’s page, Apply for the Global Talent visa.