Postdoctoral Scholar - Department of Mechanical Engineering

Postdoctoral Scholar Employee – Department of Mechanical Engineering

Position title: Postdoctoral Scholar

Salary range: $70,344 – $75,000 (UC postdoc salary scale, see https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).)

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: Spring 2026

Position duration: Initial appointment for 2 years, with possibility of extension.

Application Window:

• Open date: December 10, 2025
• Next review date: Monday, Dec 29, 2025 (Pacific Time)
• Final date: Saturday, Jan 31, 2026 (Pacific Time)

Position

Description:

The Embodied Dexterity Group, under the guidance of Professor Hannah Stuart, at the University of California, Berkeley, is seeking 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 role focuses on enabling a collaborative gripper to pick up objects and materials with variable properties from bins in an assistive manner alongside a human worker. The project aims to assist individuals with physical disabilities of the hands and arms in performing 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).

Union: /

Basic Qualifications (required at time of application):

• PhD or equivalent international degree, or enrolled in a PhD 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.
• PhD in tactile sensing, mechatronics, 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 students (PhD and MEng).

Document requirements:

• Curriculum Vitae – most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Two key publications

Reference requirements:

• Three references (contact information only)

Apply link: /JPF
05247

Help contact: jspitzer

Job location: Berkeley, CA

Equal Opportunity

Employer:

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 Anti‑Discrimination Policy and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy.

Applicants must comply with all applicable university policies and collective bargaining agreements. This position does not include sponsorship of a new H‑1B visa petition. Final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years must be disclosed by the finalist.