Post-Doctoral Research Associate

About us

King's College London is one of the UK's leading research institutions, committed to excellence in science, engineering, and healthcare innovation. This position is based within the Department of Informatics, part of the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES). The department is internationally recognised for its contributions to robotics, AI, and human-centred computing.

You will join the Vision & Human-Robot Interaction (VHR) Group, which brings together researchers working at the intersection of computer vision, robotics, and assistive technologies. The team is currently leading the NeuroHand project-a UKRI-funded programme focused on the development of a soft robotic exoskeleton glove for stroke rehabilitation. The role provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful research that translates cutting-edge robotics into clinical and real-world settings.

About the role

The Department of Informatics is looking to recruit a a Postdoctoral Research Associate position to be appointed on a 1.0 FTE ending on 18th October 2026 investigating the development, clinical evaluation, and commercial translation of NeuroHand-a tendon-driven soft robotic exoskeleton glove for home-based hand rehabilitation in stroke survivors. The role is funded by a UKRI Proof of Concept grant and is based in the Vision & Human-Robot Interaction (VHR) Lab, within the Department of Informatics in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences at King's College London.

The successful applicant will lead the integration of embedded control systems and multimodal intent detection (vision, force, voice), contribute to real-time control software and remote monitoring interface development, and oversee data collection during clinical user trials. They will work closely with a multidisciplinary team including robotics researchers, clinical advisors, regulatory consultants, and King's Innovation specialists. A key responsibility is to support the delivery of ISO 13485-compliant documentation and technical files necessary for CE/UKCA marking, as well as to contribute to patient and public involvement (PPI) sessions and commercial engagement activities.

The post-holder will be expected to demonstrate strong proficiency in robotics, embedded systems, and real-time signal processing, with a track record of research publications in human-robot interaction, rehabilitation robotics, or related areas. Experience with soft robotic systems, patient-facing trials, or medical device development is highly desirable.

This role provides an opportunity to work at the forefront of translational robotics, with the potential to contribute to a spin-out venture and significantly improve clinical outcomes for people living with upper-limb impairment following stroke.

This is a full time (35 hours per week) post, offered on a fixed term contract until the 18th October 2026.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. Demonstrated experience in mechanical design of exoskeletons, wearable robotics, or soft actuators.

2. Hands-on expertise with multimodal sensing systems, including depth cameras (e.g. RealSense), event-based cameras (e.g. DVXplorer), and tactile/force sensors.

3. Strong background in computer vision and deep learning, with practical implementation experience.

4. Proficiency in programming with C++ and Python, including use of ROS or other real-time robotics frameworks.

5. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including the ability to present technical concepts to clinical and commercial stakeholders.

6. Experience in scientific writing with at least one peer-reviewed publication in robotics, AI, or biomedical engineering.

7. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.

8. Strong time management skills and ability to deliver results within tight project timelines.

Desirable criteria

1. Prior publications in top-tier conferences or journals such as CVPR, ICCV, TPAMI, TRO, Science Robotics, or IEEE BioRob.

2. Experience with medical device development and understanding of ISO 13485 or CE/UKCA regulations.

3. Experience conducting or supporting user studies involving patients or vulnerable populations.

4. Knowledge of real-time control algorithms for assistive or rehabilitation systems.

5. Experience contributing to patent applications, translational research, or spin-out formation.

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ' How we Recruit ' pages.