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Advanced Robotics & Control Lab

Opportunities

  • PhD Positions

  • Research Opportunity for Undergraduate Students

PhD positions

Two fully funded PhD positions are available in 2023. To register your interest, send your CV to david.braun[@]vanderbilt.edu [Subject line: PhD]. We offer Candidates with research interest in Robotics, Dynamical Systems, and Optimal Control are encouraged to apply. Highly motivated students with a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Computer Science are encouraged to apply.

We study fundamental aspects of robot dynamics, control and design. We utilize techniques from the fields of applied mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, optimal control and computational design. A list of research topics, which includes modeling and simulation of complex dynamical systems, control of legged locomotion as well as compliant (variable-impedance) actuation, can be found:

  • Mechanically Adaptive Robotics: New-generation Assistive Devices and Legged Transportation Systems (NSF CAREER Project)
  • Robots Teaching Robots: Real-time Data-driven Optimal Control of Robots (NSF Project)

Candidates with outstanding academic credentials will be offered prestigious fellowships (see the fellowships of existing PhD students).

Expertise in one of these areas is essential to work in the Lab: dynamical system modeling, optimal control, machine learning, robotics, mechatronics, mechanical design.

Basic tools we use: (1) MATLAB (solving equations), (2) Mathematica (deriving models), (3) LaTeX (preparing reports and papers), (4) Adobe Illustrator (preparing figures) Photoshop (editing photos), Premiere (preparing videos), (5) SolidWorks (creating designs).

A strong background in fundamental disciplines, or a paper published in an international conference (IEEE ICRA, IEEE IROS, R:SS) or journal (IEEE T-RO, IEEE T-Mech, IEEE TNSRE, IJRR, APS PRE, or others) is a definite advantage.

Research Opportunity for Undergraduate Students

  • We are excited to involve Undergraduate and Master’s students in our research projects. Please check out our guidelines to apply for a research position and the expectations to work with us on research problems HERE. Participating in one of our project may be a valuable experience before you apply for an industry job or before you apply for a grad school.
  • If you are interested in ROBOTS, and would like to work on research projects that involve, sensors, motors, mechanical design, electronics, then you may consider working on our LEARNING ROBOTS. Exploring this opportunity is easy, you can register your interest, select the work you would like to do on the robot, and provide information about your expertise by sending an email to Prof. Braun (david.braun[@]vanderbilt.edu):
    • Subject Line: Learning Robot
    • Body of the Email:
      • What you want to work on? Hardware, Software
      • Which body part you want to work on? Head, Torso, Joints, Limbs, Foot
      • What interest you? Motors, Sensing, Batteries, Electronics
      • Are you interesting in writing software to control the robot? Yes, No
    • Attachment: CV (include GPA and prior research experience)

Basic tools used in academic research: (1) MATLAB (solving equations), (2) Mathematica (deriving models), (3) LaTeX (preparing reports and papers), (4) Adobe Illustrator (preparing figures) Photoshop (editing photos), Premiere (preparing videos), (5) SolidWorks (creating designs).