Postdoctoral Fellow in Reinforcement Learning and Musculoskeletal Robotics University of Twente in Netherlands

Postdoctoral Fellow opening at the University of Twente in the NeuBotics Lab / Robotics Centre for research at the intersection of robotics, reinforcement learning, biomechanics, artificial intelligence, and control systems.

The project is part of a collaborative Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) grant between ETH Zürich SoftRobotics Lab and the University of Twente. The research focuses on developing digital human twins of human-inspired musculoskeletal robots, combining neuromusculoskeletal modeling, reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and robotic experimentation to enable robust sim-to-real control.

Research topics include adapting human neuromusculoskeletal models to robotic limbs, building digital musculoskeletal robot twins, training robot controllers with RL, learning human-like movement and stiffness through imitation learning, and transferring policies to real hardware. The role is especially relevant for candidates interested in soft robotics, muscle-like actuators, prosthetics, wearable exoskeletons, and adaptive robotic control.

Eligibility highlights: a PhD in robotics, computer science, AI, control engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field; strong publication record; experience with RL/imitation learning, robotic control, sim2real, PyTorch/TensorFlow, GPU simulation environments such as MuJoCo or Newton, and Python/C++; strong English communication skills.

Offer details: full-time 2-year postdoc with possible 6–12 month extension, salary €4,241–€4,728 gross per month, 30% tax ruling option, pension scheme, holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, and generous leave. Deadline is 5 July 2026. Interviews are planned for the week of 13 July 2026, with an expected start in October 2026.

How to apply: submit the application through the University of Twente web platform only. Required documents include a short video, cover letter, CV, and references. Email applications are not accepted.