Project: “Integration of behavioral components of collective intelligence in robotic swarms”

Description of the postdoctoral project:
The so-called integration projects play a pivotal role in the interdisciplinary cluster of excellence “Science of Intelligence” (www.scienceofintelligence.de). The main purpose of this project in the area of collective intelligence is the integration of various behavioral components underlying collective intelligence inspired by natural swarms into two synthetic swarm robotic platforms:
1. large Kilobot swarms (N=100-1000),
2. groups of Thymio II robots (N=5-20) extended by a Raspberry Pi for additional
computational and interaction capabilities.

The implementation of the behavioral components of collective intelligence into the respective swarm robotic platforms shall enable the realization of a complex and adaptive collective shepherding behavior as an synthetic example of collective intelligence. The postdoctoral fellow to be hired is expected to have significant experience with at least one of the above swarm robotics platforms or comparable systems. Experience with both would be ideal. Furthermore, he or she should be capable of independent work in a larger team including guidance of student assistants and interdisciplinary scientific exchange with different projects within the cluster of excellence.

Applicants should hold a PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related engineering discipline. They should have the following qualifications:
• significant experience in working with at least one of the designated swarm robotics
platforms: Kilobots, or Thymio II extended with Raspberry PI, alternatively experience with comparable swarm robotics platforms is welcome;
• very good programming skills relevant in robotics context (C/C++, Python, ROS, WeBots, etc);
• good mathematical skills;
• excellent research record reflected by corresponding peer-review publications;
• strong interest in interdisciplinary collaboration with analytical disciplines (biology, psychology, neuroscience, etc);
• very good English skills;
• capability of independent work in interdisciplinary teams (e.g. guidance of student
assistants).

Please send your application (including covering letter, full CV, relevant certificates) by 05.11.2020, quoting the reference number DR/165/20 to Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biology, Dr. Pawel Romanczuk, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, pawel.romanczuk@hu-berlin.de, or preferably electronically via www.scienceofintelligence.de/jobs by clicking on the “Apply” button below.
This is a fixed term position until 31.12.2022, but there will be potential possibility of extension following positive evaluation of the project. For further information please visit our website: www.scienceofintelligence.de/jobs. Please visit our website www.hu-berlin.de/stellenangebote, which gives you access to the legally binding German version.