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Postdoctoral Scholar Employee - Department of Mechanical Engineering

Job #JPF05247
  • Mechanical Engineering / College of Engineering / UC Berkeley

Position overview

Position title: Postdoctoral Scholar
Salary range: The UC postdoc salary scales set the minimum pay determined by experience level at appointment. See the following table for the current salary scale for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-oct-2025-scales/t23.pdf A reasonable estimate for this position is $70,344-$75,000.
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: Spring 2026
Position duration: The initial appointment is for two years with the possibility of an extension based on performance and the availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: December 10, 2025

Most recent review date: Monday, Dec 29, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Saturday, Jan 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Embodied Dexterity Group under the guidance of Professor Hannah Stuart in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley is accepting applications for a post-doctoral researcher to assist in the design and integration of novel tactile sensors with co-robot grippers for adaptive dexterous manipulation in an assistive capacity. The position will be funded by an ongoing NSF CAREER Grant.

This position focuses on research to enable a collaborative gripper to pick up objects and materials with variable properties from bins in an assistive manner alongside a human worker. This task presents major challenges in flexible and collaborative robotic manipulation because it benefits from both compliance and precision, as well as touch sensors. Ultimately, this project is aimed as assisting those with physical disabilities of the hands and arms in conducting manual tasks more effectively without assistance from another person.

Day-to-day duties involve a mix of independent research (study design, experiments, data analysis, literature review), writing (papers, grants), lab management (equipment maintenance, safety training), mentoring graduate students, and collaborative professional engagement (presenting at meetings, organizing workshops, co-authoring work with other researchers in lab).

Union: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/postdoctoral-scholars/contract/

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

PhD or equivalent international degree or enrolled in a PhD (or equivalent international degree) program.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

PhD or equivalent international degree.
No more than two years of post-degree research experience.

Preferred qualifications
  • PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or similar degree program.
  • PhD in areas related to tactile sensing, mechatronics and hardware design, contact condition, robotics and dexterous manipulation, or human assistive devices.
  • Relevant experience as a sensor design researcher and/or hardware developer.
  • Ability to effectively write and edit academic manuscripts for peer review.
  • Ability to lead and mentor groups of researchers, such as PhD and MEng students.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Two key publications

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05247

Help contact: jspitzer@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California’s Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

Job location

Berkeley, CA