Postdoctoral Position in Robotic Water-sampling (UBC Point Grey Campus, Vancouver)

Posting Expiry

 

Postdoctoral Position in Robotic Water-sampling 

We have funded postdoctoral fellow (PDF) position available in autonomous robotic water-quality sampling at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.  

Our goal is to develop a drone-based platform for rapid acquisition of in-situ water data at scale. 

We want to for example: monitor the extent and severity of oil spills and/or algal blooms or measure pollution and salinity during flooding events. 

Multiple robots will autonomously gather and transmit data real-time over a cellular network to be processed and displayed on a custom cloud platform.

This position is part of the CLEAR project in collaboration with Rogers and the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre and will include algorithmic, computational, and applied aspects.

About the Lab

This is a joint position between the research groups of Dr. Adrien Desjardins and Dr. Dominic Liao-McPherson. We also collaborate closely with Dr. Phlippe Tortell in Earth and Ocean Sciences.

We are hosted within the Departments of Mechanical and Electrical & Computer Engineering on UBCs Point Grey campus on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people, surrounded by forest, ocean and mountains. Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse cities in Canada, and one of the most livable cities in the world. UBC offers a friendly and stimulating environment and the opportunity to become an expert in control, optimization, and computing while solving meaningful engineering problems.

Qualifications

  • A PhD degree in engineering (or a related field)
  • Background in Robotics, Marine, and/or Aerospace engineering is helpful but not required 
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Some experience in optimization, machine learning, control systems, or robotics.
  • No other specific qualifications beyond and a willingness to learn. 

If you have any questions

If you’re interested in pursuing graduate school in beautiful Vancouver and any of this seems interesting to you, please don't hesitate to reach out.

How to apply

  • Submit the following documents by email at dliaomcp {at} mech.ubc.ca and adrien.desjardins {at} ubc.ca
    • A resume/CV;
    • A cover letter/statement of intent (including relevant experience, your research interests);
    • Unofficial transcripts;
  • Please submit all documents as a single .pdf file and use the following format for the email subject line: [CLEAR PDF application]: LastName, FirstName
  • Those shortlisted for further consideration will be contacted for an online interview
  • This position can be hosted in either Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Due to the volume of emails received only those shortlisted will be contacted; I apologize in advance.

We encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Key Dates

  • September 14, 2026 | First review date for applications
  • October 15, 2026 | Last review date for applications (no applications will be considered after this date)

Salary Ranges

A yearly salary of $60,000 – $70,000 + benefits

Award holders (e.g., NSERC PDF Fellowships) will receive a top up.