Post Doctoral Fellow - Mining and Explosives Engineering #00083994

Hiring Department

Mining and Explosives Engineering

Application Deadline
Open Until Filled

Full Time/Part Time
Full Time, Benefit Eligible

Job Description

The Department of Mining & Explosives Engineering is looking for a post-doctoral fellow to work on human-robot interactions to facilitate self-escape during mine evacuation. The individual will work on a project funded by the Centers for Disease Control’s National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health. The appointment is for one year with the possibility to renew in subsequent years based on performance and funding. The anticipated start date for this position is January 2023. The overall goal of this portion of the project is to develop algorithms for Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot to be more autonomous for collaboration with miners. For the 2022-2023 academic year, the objectives are to:

• Characterize robotic missions, we have identified as critical based on surveys of miners, for robots deployed from within a mine to help miners self-escape in an emergency;
• Develop algorithms for autonomous navigation in an underground environment; and
• Help mentor graduate and undergraduate research assistants working on other aspects of the project.

Minimum Qualifications

PhD in engineering, science, or mathematics with the relevant background.

Preferred Qualifications

• Be able to conduct cross-disciplinary research
• Have experience with aspects of the research

About Missouri S&T

Founded in 1870 as the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Missouri University of Science and Technology is one of the top technological institutions in the nation and among the first technological institutions established west of the Mississippi River. A US News and World Report Top 100 national public university, Missouri S&T serves 7,200 students and counts over 55,000 living alumni, including world-famous astronauts, scientists, engineers, inventors, and business leaders. S&T has three colleges: the College of the Arts, Sciences, and Education; the College of Engineering and Computing; and the newly established Kummer College of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development. Nearly 400 faculty offer 101 degree undergraduate and graduate programs in business, engineering, science, computing, social sciences, and the humanities. Students entering S&T have an average ACT of 28.5, while 80% of all students are Missouri residents and 20% are first-generation.

In 2020, alumnus Fred Kummer and his wife June donated $300M to create the Kummer Institute of Student Success, Research, and Economic Development, with three primary objectives: (1) elevate S&T’s reputation as an educational and research organization, (2) create broad access to S&T’s exceptional STEM and business programs through outreach to Missouri’s K-12 communities, and (3) drive economic development regionally, statewide, and beyond. Missouri S&T is currently poised for dramatic achievement in these areas as the vision of the Kummer family is brought to fruition.

Located about 100 miles southwest of St. Louis in the multicultural community of Rolla, Missouri, S&T is an accessible, safe, and friendly campus surrounded by Ozarks scenery.

Missouri S&T’s Department of Mining and Explosives Engineering, the campus, and the greater University of Missouri System are deeply committed to inclusion and valuing diversity. Missouri S&T has undertaken a number of initiatives to improve campus life and the work/life balance of its faculty and staff (see http://hr.mst.edu ). Missouri S&T seeks to meet the needs of dual-career couples. ( Dual Career Partner Assistance Program )