Student assistant (m/f/d)

The Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) conducts research to understand the principles of perception, action, and learning in natural and artificial systems that successfully interact with complex environments. The Haptic Intelligence Department at the institute’s Stuttgart site is looking for a new team member to support a research project on creating bio-inspired sensors using novel 3D printing techniques as a student assistant (m/f/d).

About the project

This project investigates the impacts that geometry and stiffness have on bio-inspired tactile sensing structures modeled after animal whiskers. The study focuses on using different multi-material 3D printing techniques to create new types of sensing structures that allow trade-offs between flexibility when interacting with external objects combined with vibration sensing after contact is broken. Using a simple force-torque sensor along with mechanical perturbations, we want to determine how varying physical whisker parameters might allow robots to operate efficiently in different environments. These investigations may also help shed light on how animal whiskers enable accurate tactile sensing. By taking inspiration from biological sensing, we believe we can create new engineering devices for applications in robotics and health.

Roles & responsibilities

This student assistant position will allow the student to gain hands-on experience in designing and conducting physical experiments with sensors. Possible tasks include:

• Assistance in conducting experiments with 3D-printed sensing structures
• Analysis of data from force-torque sensors attached to the sensing structures
• Visualization of data using MATLAB and/or Python
• Dataset annotation according to an established methodology
• Designing and/or fabricating new sensing structures for 3D printing

The concrete position and tasks are subject to discussion with interested candidates. Selected candidates can start working as soon as they are hired.

Education & experience

We are looking for a talented student pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering Cybernetics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or related fields to support our research as a student assistant.

Applicants should

• Have high motivation
• Have good oral and written communication skills in English
• Be pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree
• Be currently enrolled at a German university
• Want to work in an international and interdisciplinary research environment
• Be able to work on-site at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, Germany

We are also interested in candidates who have

• Hardware experience for mechatronic systems (e.g., Arduino, ESP boards)
• Basic programming skills in Python or C++
• Interest and/or experience in bio-inspired robotics and sensors

Our offer

The position will be located in Stuttgart at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. You can expect a modern workplace in an international environment with regular opportunities for further personal and professional growth.

Master’s students holding a Bachelor’s degree will be paid €13.65 per hour. Bachlor students will be paid €13.08 per hour.  The maximum possible working hours per week are 20 hours.

Application

To apply, please submit a CV in English, a short motivation letter in English (why you are interested in this position/research), and optionally other documentation helpful to evaluate your background.

Please prepare these documents in English and upload them as one PDF file to our application portal.

For further questions please contact Andrew Schulz or Iris Andrussow.

The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals. The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in its workforce in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.

Closing date: The position will be open until filled.