Postdoctoral Fellowship (17) at Uppsala University, Sweden

The postdoc project will investigate the use of social robots in child-robot interaction applications.

The postdoc project is part of the newly established multi-site Research Group on Child Development in the Age of AI and Social Robots, funded by WASP-HS.

The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanity and Society (WASP-HS) is a national research program in Sweden. The vision of WASP-HS is to foster novel interdisciplinary knowledge in the humanities and social sciences about AI and autonomous systems and their impact on human and social development. WASP-HS enables cutting-edge research, expertise, and competence building in the humanities and social sciences.

The research group on Child Development in the Age of AI and Social Robots will identify and address major emerging developmental challenges for children in the AI era, both in terms of how children interact with AI agents and social robots, and of how this process is shaped by, and shapes, fast-changing socio-cultural factors and practices. The research group aims to (1) understand individual and social consequences of children’s interaction with AI systems, and (2) explore new opportunities to promote development of children’s AI literacy, social, cognitive and emotional skills, wellbeing, and values that better meet the needs of the future society.

The postdoc project aims to explore how to design social robots for children’s learning of socio-emotional skills and reflection on societal values, and to understand and mitigate associated ethical risks in child-robot interaction.

Forskningen inom programmet för fysikalisk kemi spänner över ett brett område – från studier av reaktionsmekanismer till grundläggande teori om elektronöverföring och utveckling av artificiell fotosyntes, med särskilt fokus på ljusinducerade elektronöverföringsreaktioner och produktion av sol-elektro-bränslen och -produkter. Inom forskningsprogrammet Fysikalisk kemi bedriver vi både grundläggande och målinriktad forskning om solenergikonvertering, kemisk dynamik samt yt-, kolloid- och makromolekylär kemi. Vår forskning är framgångsrik och internationellt erkänd, och vi deltar i en stor andel externt finansierade nationella och internationella samarbetsprojekt.

Vi söker en forskare inom tidsupplöst mjukröntgen-spektroelektrokemi för artificiell fotosyntes, för att utveckla nya metoder som kan karakterisera elektrokatalysatorers dynamik på molekylär nivå. Den utvecklade metoden ska möjliggöra förståelse av mekanismerna bakom vattenoxidation och koldioxidreduktion i syntetiska elektrokatalysatorer, och bör därför fokusera på analys av lätta grundämnen (t.ex. O, C, N). Forskaren kommer att vidareutveckla vår forskning inom dessa områden genom att utveckla våra tidsupplösta spektroelektrokemiska Raman-, elektrokemiska och synkrotronbaserade hård-/mjukröntgen-spektroskopier (inklusive in-situ XAS) och tillämpa dessa i mekanistiska studier av dessa elektrokatalysatorer, samt använda insikterna för deras fortsatta utveckling. Att förbättra tidsupplösningen hos dessa metoder genom utveckling av ny hårdvara kommer att vara en central del av projektet.

The Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University has a broad research profile with strong research groups focusing on cancer, genetic and autoimmune diseases. A fundamental idea at the department is to stimulate translational research and thereby promote closer interactions between medical research and health care. Research is presently organized in six research programs: Cancer Precision Medicine, Cancer Immunotherapy, Genomics and Neurobiology, Molecular Tools and Functional Genomics, Neuro-Oncology and Neurodegeneration and Vascular Biology. Departmental activities are also integrated with the units for Oncology, Clinical Genetics, Clinical Immunology, Clinical Pathology, and Hospital Physics at Uppsala University Hospital. The department has teaching assignments in several education programs, including Master Programs, at the Faculty of Medicine. The department has a yearly turnover of around SEK 550 million, out of which about two thirds derive from external funding. IGP has approximately 400 employees, out of which 100 are PhD-students, and there are in total more than 850 affiliated staff members. More information about the department’s activities can be found here: www.uu.se/en/staff/department/immunology-genetics-and-pathology

Rechargeable batteries are a key enabler for transitioning to a carbon-neutral future. Considering the enormous amounts of battery materials needed – e.g. for electrification of the vehicle industry – sustainability in materials and processes is of the highest importance. Regardless of the battery chemistry understudy, a circular battery value chain relies on efficient recycling. Current industrial recycling is mainly based on pyro- and hydrometallurgical methods, or a combination of those, to recover critical elements as well as elements that should not be released into the environment. Those methods are however energy, water, and chemical intense.

In this project, we aim to investigate and demonstrate an AI-driven fully automated and flexible robotized solution for the potentially more sustainable process of direct remanufacturing. First, a circular process is established in the form of a self-driving lab based on an industrial robot where Li-ion cells are manufactured, tested, analysed, disassembled, components washed, and remanufactured. The established process is optimized considering the chemical process solutions during electrode washing. Finally, the process is evaluated regarding potential for scaling to larger battery formats relevant for the vehicle industry. The research project is a collaboration between the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Chemistry within the battery initiative Compel.

The postdoctoral candidate will lead the development of new in vivo and in vitro technologies, including a mouse model of endometriosis in which endometrial tissue from patients is transplanted into the abdominal cavity of immunocompromised mice. These lesions can then be studied over time using intravital microscopy to elucidate immune cell interactions, vascularization, and growth. In addition, the effects of drug candidates on endometriotic tissue will be evaluated both in vivo and in vitro. The position is based in the laboratory of Professor Mia Phillipson, who leads an international, dynamic, and ambitious research team in ImmunoPhysiology with a well-established collaborative network and strong funding. The overarching aim of the research conducted in the Phillipson laboratory is to uncover new roles for immune cells and to identify ways to regulate their specific functions in relevant contexts such as organ development, cardiovascular disease, infection, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes. The Phillipson laboratory has a strong translational focus, which has resulted in a successful spin-out company for drug development currently in clinical phase 2 (Ilya Pharma, www.ilyapharma.se). The laboratory is situated in a unique environment that enables functional and long-term in vivo studies, and is in close proximity to the largest national infrastructure for Life Sciences in Sweden, SciLifeLab, where Professor Phillipson serves as vice director. The candidate is also expected to contribute in various ways to the WHOLE research environment and to actively participate in seminar series and other activities.

At Uppsala University, we are developing a new tool-chain, MIMOS, for model-based development and dynamic updates of safety-critical embedded real-time systems. MIMOS is based on a novel asynchronous design paradigm that enables incremental system design and dynamic updates after deployment. The tool-chain supports the full system design flow, including modeling, simulation, formal verification, resource scheduling and isolation, multi-core code generation, and—most importantly—safe in-field updates after deployment with formal safety guarantees.

The tool-chain is now ready for release for academic use. To further strengthen MIMOS, particularly in areas related to AI-assisted design, verification, and real-time scheduling, we are seeking two postdoctoral researchers with strong backgrounds in Formal Verification, Real-Time Scheduling, and/or Industrial Applications.

Are you interested in working with experimental physics and fusion materials, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a postdoctoral position at Uppsala University.

The research conducted at the Department of Physics and Astronomy encompasses a wide range of physics topics, distributed over nine divisions. The department is located in the Ångström Laboratory and employs nearly 400 people, 100 of whom are doctoral students. It offers a broad physics curriculum to undergraduate and graduate students, participation in nationally and internationally leading projects for researchers, and opportunities for partnership with industry and various outreach activities.

Are you interested in working in an interdisciplinary project on toxicity of novel battery components in a friendly, thriving, international environment? The Molecular Toxicology and Epigenetics (EpiTox) group at the Department of Organismal Biology together with the Structural Chemistry research program at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström is looking for a postdoctoral researcher who wants to contribute to safe and sustainable technological developments. The EpiTox group is part of the research program Physiology and Environmental Toxicology, a growing, vibrant research environment where experimental models and molecular tools are used to study and understand cellular and molecular mechanisms in animals and plants underlying whole organisms’ physiology, development, and responses to the environment. The Structural Chemistry program has for many years hosted and focused on research and development of materials and their applications within the energy storage area: the Ångström Advanced Battery Centre. We develop novel electrode and electrolyte materials, characterize them, evaluate and improve them with respect to battery performance and sustainability, and study fundamental chemical processes and properties using both experimental and computational techniques.

Do you want to work with a team whose work is of great importance to industry, society, and academia? As a post-doctoral researcher, you will focus on developing intelligent, adaptive, and sustainable manufacturing systems to enhance operational and energy efficiency. The project examines how digital twins, simulation-based multi-objective optimization, and AI-driven decision support systems can enable manufacturing industries to maintain stable production, optimize energy usage, and recover quickly from disruptions. The research will involve reinforcement learning, predictive modeling, and real-time adaptive control to dynamically optimize production sequencing, resource allocation, and energy-efficient scheduling.

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled postdoc researcher to join our team in a cutting-edge project focused on next-generation aqueous batteries. The overarching goal is to develop novel electrodes and electrolytes for high-performance aqueous iron- and/or zinc-ion batteries. The work involves studying electrochemical energy storage and degradation mechanisms of electrode materials, formulating and optimizing electrolyte systems (including hybrid solvents, functional additives, and water-in-salt electrolytes), and investigating the electrochemical performances of designed aqueous batteries. 

The main duties involved in a postdoctoral position is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours.

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Design advanced electrode and electrolyte materials for aqueous battery applications, and employ various physical characterization techniques (OEMS, EQCMD, XRD, SEM/TEM, XPS) to investigate their structure and properties.
• Develop and optimize aqueous electrolyte systems, evaluating their electrochemical window, ionic transport properties, long-term stability, and interactions with electrode materials during cycling.
• Fabricate and test battery cells (coin, Swagelok, or pouch configurations), assess their cycling stability and rate capability, analyze reaction kinetics and energy storage mechanisms, and study phase transformations and degradation mechanisms of electrode materials.
• Establish and maintain research infrastructure, including in-group characterization instruments and electrochemical workstations.
• Write and publish high-quality original research papers in leading peer-reviewed journals.
• Supervise and mentor MSc and PhD students, co-supervising theses and guiding laboratory work and data analysis.

Anställningen är placerad i forskargruppen Vårdvetenskap. Forskargruppen är värd för det tvärvetenskapliga forskningsprogrammet Fex-Can som bedriver forskning om sexuell och reproduktiv hälsa hos unga vuxna som har behandlats för cancer. Forskningsprogrammet omfattar olika projekt och en del av dem testar och utvärderar internetbaserade behandlingsprogram för att minska fertilitetsoro och sexproblem efter en cancerbehandling. Projektgruppens medarbetare är baserade vid Uppsala universitet, Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm) och Umeå universitet. Vi testar just nu ett internetbaserat behandlingsprogram i en randomiserad kontrollerad pilotstudie där forskningspersoner rekryteras via annonser, patientorganisationer och sjukhus. Studien levereras via plattformen vid Linköpings universitet men en del insamling av data genomförs i forskargruppen.

The position involves analysing and interpreting register data and clinical data sets, with a focus on whether treatment with stimulant medications increases the risk for young people with ADHD to develop psychosis or bipolar disorder, as well as drafting scientific manuscripts and publishing them in collaboration with other researchers in the project. Some teaching duties may also be included. The appointed candidate is expected to participate in activities such as seminars, meetings, and conferences aimed at promoting interdisciplinary national and international networks and creating favourable conditions for future career development. The position is based in Uppsala, but travel to New York, USA, will occur, as the project is an international collaboration.