SDU Robotics, part of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), invites applications for one or more 2-year postdoc positions, where the candidates will work under a EUROfusion project on remote maintenance of fusion power plants. The starting date is 01.12.2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The workplace is at SDU's main campus in Odense, Denmark, and the work is expected to be primarily onsite.

What we offer

• An exciting opportunity to work at the cutting edge of robotics for real-world applications.

• A collaborative and supportive work environment that encourages innovation and creativity.

• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership.

• Access to state-of-the-art technology and resources.

Job description
SDU Robotics currently has an open 2-year postdoc position in relation EUROfusion; specifically, on remote maintenance of fusion power plants. The project is on modelling and controller design for the transporter robot for extracting breeding blankets. Breeding blankets are long heavy structures that deflect when they are manipulated; thus, accurate modelling and control are pivotal for the success of the project. The postdoc should deploy the developed controllers within a test facility for remote maintenance located close to Odense. 

The candidates will contribute to developing and implementing the control system for a remote maintenance test facility at SDU. This includes dynamical simulation of breeding blanket extraction with a robot, design and implementation of real-time control system, selection of sensors and actuators. Remote maintenance is a safety-critical application, so knowledge within this domain is an advantage. 

As a postdoctoral researcher, your role will encompass mainly research, but teaching responsibilities could also be part of the employment. The main duties and responsibilities include: 

• Research in collaboration with colleagues from SDU Robotics and EUROfusion.

• Implement control system in test facility.

• Conducting scientific research and publishing the results in high quality scientific conferences/journals.

• Contributing to the project Eurofusion deliverables. 

Profile and requirements
The position requires research experience at PhD level in a relevant area such as robotics and control preferably applied to robots with flexible links. The candidate is hence expected to have most of the following qualifications:

• Experience with control of flexible-link robots.

• Experience with modelling of flexible-link robots.

• Experience within model-based control for robotics. 

• Experience in implementing real-time control systems.

• Experience with safety-critical control systems.

• Experience in programming and developing maintainable software.

Furthermore, the successful candidates are expected to:

• Have excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken). 

• Conduct independent research.

• Have high self-motivation to learn. 

• Be able to work well and communicate expert knowledge in an interdisciplinary team.

• Have a strong sense of responsibility. 

Research environment
The candidate will be integrated in the section SDU Robotics, which is at the core of the  Odense Robotics Cluster involving Universal Robots, Mobile Industrial Robots (MIR) and 120+ other companies. We are a team of appr. 60 researchers specialized in robot solutions involving modelling, estimation, and control of advanced robot technologies. 

The group is involved in a variety of national and European projects and features a strong network of academic and industrial partners. We solve challenging research problems from real applications and implement novel robot solutions together with end users such as hospitals, Novo Nordisk, LEGO and Danfoss.

We value teamwork, professional diligence, enthusiasm for robotics and the drive to adopt new skills and extended responsibilities. We offer an open, international team with flexible work organization and support of individual development.

We look forward to receiving your application and to supporting your academic growth as a researcher in SDU Robotics. 

Further information

Further information about this position is available via email from Professor Christoffer Sloth at email chsl@mmmi.sdu.dk. 

Please visit us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sdu-robotics. 

If you experience technical problems, you must contact hcm-support@sdu.dk. 

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information. 
Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.

Application procedure 
Applicants are advised to read the SDU information on how to apply.

The application deadline is October 19, 2025, at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST). 

Assessment of the candidates is based on the application material, and an application must include: 

• A motivation letter that clearly explains the applicant's interest, qualifications, and motivation for the position (max. 2 pages).

• Detailed Curriculum Vitae, including personal contact information.

• Copies of official certificates/diplomas and transcripts of exams (MSc and PhD), both the original documents and in professional English translation. 

• List of publications.

• Maximum 2 examples of relevant publications, please attach one pdf-file for each publication.

The application may also include: 

• Research statement. 

• Summary of experience in teaching. 

• References (names and emails) and/or Reference letters.

• Documentation of other qualifications with relevance for the position. 

All files must be in English and must be in PDF format. All files must be unlocked and allow binding and may not be password protected. Documents should not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.

UPLOAD GUIDE: Motivated application shall be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’ (max. 5 MB), Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded as ‘Resume’ (max 5 MB). All other documents shall be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents’ (max 10 files of max 50 MB per file).

If you experience technical problems, you must contact hcm-support@sdu.dk.

The University of Southern Denmark wishes to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.

SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, are subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.

Assessment and selection process

Read about the Assessment and selection process. Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process. Only shortlisted applicants will receive an assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU.  Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee or an expert. Assessment is based on the application material. 

Interviews and tests may be part of the selection process.

Conditions of employment
Employment as a postdoc requires scientific qualifications at PhD level. Employment as a postdoc is temporary and the starting date is expected to be December 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter and will be agreed with the successful candidates. The position is for a 2-year period with the possibility of extension. 

The workplace is at SDU's main campus in Odense, Denmark, and the work is expected to be primarily onsite.

The person employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a self-organiser.

Research will be predominant in the position. Teaching assignments can be agreed individually. Furthermore, other types of assignments may occur to a limited degree. The faculty determines the distribution of the various assignments. The weighting of the different assignments may vary over time.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state with the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for postdoc as described herein. Further information on salary and taxation.