Open positions

The Robot Learning & Interaction Group at the Idiap Research Institute is regulary searching for motivated and outstanding PhD and Postdoc researchers. If your research interests fit with our research activities, you can contact me by email.

Postdoc candidates should hold a PhD degree in engineering, computer science, physics or applied mathematics, with a background in signal processing, control, optimization, machine learning, linear algebra, statistics and programming. The Postdoc position is from one to two years. Annual gross salary is 80,000 CHF. Part time employment is possible if desired.

The research in the Robot Learning & Interaction Group spans several disciplines at the crossroad of machine learning, optimization, optimal control, geometry, human motion sciences and user interfaces. This research statement provides an overview of our research lines. Our group is small, which facilitates both the collaboration within the group and the visibility of each person's research. We are particularly interested in the challenge of learning/transferring skills from fewer demonstrations or exploration trials than what is currently required.

Who do I seek?

Our research activities span several branches of science, and there is consequently no specific educational background sought for these positions. The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in one or a subset of the research topics described above. Other areas of research extending our current lines of research are also welcome for outstanding candidates: if you are a great candidate, I will adapt the project to you!

The ideal candidate is enthusiastic, creative, curious and motivated to do research with both theory and practice. I expect strong mathematical skills (in particular, in linear algebra, machine learning or optimization) and strong coding skills (Python, C++ or Matlab/Octave).

Please submit a short cover letter (max 1 page) to describe your motivation and how your background and interests fit with our research activities (see this research statement, this short description of our research, and our latest publications). As we receive many applications when a postion is opened (usually over a hundred for each open position), a good cover letter can be decisive to be shortlisted!

When preparing your CV, do not assume I know everything you know! In particular, for PhD positions, I might not be aware of your university rankings or grading systems. When available, relative ranking will then be much more informative, such as average grade or ranks in the class. In some cases, I may otherwise not necessarily be able to gauge how good you are from your grades or your university. If you are applying for a PhD position, you may not have experience with research, but you will most likely have done projects during courses, so tell me about the projects you liked the most!

What is Idiap?

Idiap is an independent nonprofit research institute, affiliated with the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). It is located in the town of Martigny in the Swiss Alps, a scenic region in the south of Switzerland, surrounded by the highest mountains of Europe, and offering exceptional quality of life, exciting recreational activities, including hiking, climbing and skiing, as well as varied cultural activities. It is within proximity to Lausanne and Geneva.You can check out our annual reports to know more about Idiap.

Idiap offers excellent salaries and conditions at all levels in a young, high-quality, dynamic, and multicultural environment. Although Idiap is located in the French part of Switzerland, English is the official working language. Idiap is an equal opportunity employer and is actively involved in the "Advancement of Women in Science" European initiative. The Institute seeks to maintain a principle of open competition (on the basis of merit) to appoint the best candidate, provides equal opportunity for all candidates, and equally encourage both genders to apply.

For frequently asked questions (FAQs) about living in Switzerland, you can visit http://www.idiap.ch/en/faq.