Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Autonomous Robot Assistants in LTC

About the role

The School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to lead the technical development and real‑world implementation of autonomous mobile robot assistants in long‑term care settings. Working within the UBC IDEA lab, the Fellow will collaborate with industry partners and end‑users to create robust, user‑centred robotic solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and modify autonomous mobile robots in partnership with industry collaborators.
• Design and refine visual, auditory and multimodal communication systems for robots.
• Integrate UX/UI features and ensure workflow compatibility in long‑term care environments.
• Conduct usability testing, system evaluation and iterative debugging in real‑world LTC homes.
• Lead deployment, provide technical training to staff, and support ongoing operation.
• Collect and analyse qualitative and quantitative data on system performance and user interaction.
• Prepare technical documentation, academic publications and knowledge‑translation materials.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students involved in the project.

Required profile

• PhD (completed within the past five years) in Computer Science, Engineering, Human‑Computer Interaction or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated research expertise and a strong interest in robotics for senior care.
• Experience working on user‑centred design and implementation science is preferred.

Required skills

• Robotics and autonomous mobile robot platforms.
• Human‑Robot Interaction (HRI) and multimodal interface development.
• UX/UI design for interactive systems, including visualization and audio feedback.
• Usability testing, system evaluation and iterative debugging.
• Qualitative and quantitative data analysis.

What we offer

• Competitive salary of $60,000 CAD per year (1.0 FTE).
• Two‑year fixed‑term appointment starting September 2026.
• Opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary research environment with industry partners.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art robotics labs and long‑term care facilities.