Postdoctoral Researcher, Human Aware Interaction Learning

# Postdoctoral Researcher, Human Aware Interaction Learning Toyota Research Institute Cambridge, MA (Hybrid)
Full-time $136,800 – $196,650 / yearAI tools:

Py Torch Tensor Flow Upload  your resume once and Scout applies for you Apply with Scout Share this job:

Linked

InXSave image

Conduct research on how humans and robots learn to collaborate, including the use of foundation models in robotic manipulation. You’ll work with TRI researchers from project ideation through validation and publish findings on approaches to human-robot interaction.
* Permanent* Hybrid
* Postdoctoral researcher
* PhD in a related field### Skills and expertise

Human-robot interaction

Robot foundation models

Imitation learning

Reinforcement learning

Robot manipulation

Language-conditioned trajectory planning

Python Py Torch ### Key responsibilities
* Research and publish methods for data-efficient, robust human-robot collaboration.
* Explore computational and cognitive approaches to understanding, predicting, and interacting with people.
* Develop and validate research approaches in collaboration with other researchers.## How this job compares

Compared with 90 open mid-level research jobs on October 10, 2026.Pay:
This job pays $137K to $197K a year. The 32 open mid-level research jobs that publish US pay start at $199K on average, so this job starts about 31% lower.

Similar open jobs:
We Love AI Jobs lists 90 open mid-level research jobs at 53 companies.

Remote work:
This job is hybrid. 12 of the 90 mid-level research jobs (13%) are remote.

AI in this role:
High. AI is the core of the work: building, training or deploying AI systems. The work directly applies foundation models and machine learning to human-robot interaction. Research includes robot learning, embodied policies, and collaboration with robots.## Full description

At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we’re on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We’re developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience. To lead this transformative shift in mobility, we’ve built a world-class team advancing the state of the art in AI, robotics, driving, and material sciences.

The Opportunity Our team at Toyota Research Institute is looking for a motivated and capable postdoc to conduct research on the computational and machine learning aspects of human-robot interaction. Areas of interest include applying foundation models to human-robot interaction, with an emphasis on understanding human-robot collaboration and how it evolves as foundation models become increasingly central to robotic manipulation.

We’re looking for a postdoc with a solution driven attitude who can partner closely with our research team and turn ideas into impactful results. Relevant background topics include robot foundation models (e.g., VLAs, WAMs), imitation/reinforcement learning, leveraging language conditioning in trajectory planning/prediction, and decision-making under uncertainty, as well as human-machine teaming/shared control.

The Challenge In this project, we’re exploring novel approaches to efficiently learn how humans and robots collaborate. Our overall goal is to create AI approaches that challenge more traditional approaches to novel interactions with a human collaborator and enable the development of new embodied interactive policies.

The project will be focused on researching a new approach in a specific sub-area of the overall goal, towards publications in top-tier conferences, well-matched for a postdoc that is looking for an additional year of research before beginning a faculty position, or a more experienced existing faculty member looking to take a year-long sabbatical with us. The fellowship will be in our Cambridge, MA research center, where you will be working with…