Roel Pieters

Tampere University’s Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (ENS) invites applications for the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship program. This prestigious opportunity is designed for researchers who have completed their PhD and are seeking to advance their careers in an international and interdisciplinary environment. The ENS faculty is renowned for its research excellence in natural sciences and engineering, offering a vibrant academic setting with world-class infrastructure and strong industry connections. The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship at Tampere University covers a wide range of research areas, including but not limited to automation technology, mechanical engineering, robotics, materials science, environmental engineering, chemistry, and physics. Research groups within ENS focus on topics such as autonomous mobile machines, mechatronics, digital design and manufacturing, tribology, circular economy innovation, energy and biorefining, synthetic biology, photonics, computational physics, and advanced materials. The faculty’s interdisciplinary approach encourages collaboration across engineering and natural sciences, providing fellows with opportunities to engage in both fundamental and applied research. Applicants must have defended their PhD by the application deadline (September 9, 2026), have no more than 8 years of research experience post-PhD, and must not have resided or worked in Finland for more than 12 months in the 36 months preceding the deadline. A confirmed supervisor at Tampere University is required, and candidates are encouraged to review the list of potential supervisors and research groups to identify a suitable match for their research interests. The MSCA fellowship provides comprehensive funding, including 1-2 years’ salary, mobility and family allowances, research costs, and institutional overheads. The university supports applicants through a dedicated Masterclass, which assists in preparing competitive proposals. The application process involves contacting a potential supervisor with a letter of intent (including a project idea, CV, and eligibility confirmation), joining the Masterclass if matched, and submitting a final proposal in collaboration with the supervisor. For more information, applicants should consult the official Tampere University MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships page and review the detailed guidelines and research group listings. This is an excellent opportunity for postdoctoral researchers in engineering, natural sciences, and related fields to join a leading European research institution and advance their academic careers.

🚀 Tampere University is hiring a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Robotics and AI within the Cognitive Robotics research group led by Roel Pieters . The position focuses on large visual/language/action models for robot manipulators , with a broader research environment in cognitive robotics and human-robot interaction . The group’s work aims to bring robots closer to humans by enabling robots to collaborate, explore, and learn with people. This opportunity is best suited to candidates with a strong interest in robotics , artificial intelligence , and related areas such as robot learning and manipulation. The post is a postdoctoral opening, so applicants should already have the background expected for a research fellow role at that level. Funding details are not specified in the post excerpt, but the role is a formal university postdoctoral researcher position. No scholarship or studentship is mentioned. To apply, use the recruitment link provided in the post and review the Cognitive Robotics group page for more information about the team and research direction.

Tampere University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Robotics and AI, based in the Cognitive Robotics group within the unit of Automation Technology and Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences. The university offers a multidisciplinary and high-impact research environment, with competitive strengths in technology, health, and society. The Cognitive Robotics group is led by Professor Roel Pieters and is recognized for its strong European network and industry collaborations. The group focuses on robotics research, particularly robot manipulation and human-robot collaboration using AI-based methods. Research topics include perception for robot manipulation (grasping, assembly), perception for human-robot interaction (speech, visual, learning from demonstration), large and visual-language models for robot manipulation, motion planning and control, software development, and safety. All research is grounded in AI-based methods such as machine and deep learning, with real-time execution on robot systems. Industrial applications in manufacturing and inspection & maintenance for large infrastructures (e.g., CERN) inspire the research agenda. The position is linked to several high-profile projects, including OPERA (Open perception, learning, and decision-making for robot AI, Horizon Europe), PERFORM (Practical and Reliable Foundation Models for Robot Manipulation, RCF), and the Centre of Excellence of AI for Sustainable Living and Working (Horizon Europe). The group is well-equipped with a Robolab and a dynamic community of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, as well as research assistants. Applicants should have a PhD in a relevant field and demonstrated experience with programming (Python, C++, ROS), industrial robot manipulators, and/or perception systems. Experience with learning-based approaches and related software tools is beneficial. Candidates must be motivated, self-guided, possess a strong theoretical background, and be fluent in spoken and written English. The role includes research, supervision of PhD/MSc students, grant preparation, and support of lab activities. The position is for a fixed-term period of 2 years, with a mutually agreed starting date (as early as 1 June 2026). A six-month trial period applies. The salary ranges from 3800 Euro to 4200 Euro per month, based on job demand level and performance, and includes competitive benefits such as occupational health care, flexible work schedules, versatile research infrastructure, modern teaching facilities, a safe campus, and a personal fund for sports and cultural activities. Tampere is Finland's largest inland city and a major academic hub in the Nordic region, offering a vibrant entrepreneurial community, rich cultural scene, and access to stunning nature. Finland is renowned for its stability, safety, and quality of life. To apply, submit your application via the Tampere University online recruitment system by 3 May 2026. Applications must be in English and include a CV, list of publications, letter of motivation, and a one-page research plan. For further information, contact Professor Roel Pieters at [email protected].