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Current Opening(s)

Postdoctoral Research Associate

The MATRIX Lab led by Dr. Donald "Bucket" Costello at the University of Maryland (located in Southern Maryland) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on cutting-edge, funded research focused on developing evidence and methodologies for the certification of autonomous systems (primarily drones) to perform safety-critical actions currently reserved for human pilots.

Job Description

The successful candidate will contribute to multiple funded efforts across the lab, with responsibilities including:

1. Research & Development: Develop, test, and evaluate theoretical, algorithmic, and experimental methods to generate evidence for the certification and verification of autonomous aerial systems operating in safety-critical domains.
2. Project & Lab Assistance: Assist in managing multi-project deliverables, experimental setups, and coordination across ongoing funded research efforts.
3. Mentorship & Leadership: Assist with the supervision and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students in the lab.
4. Grant Writing & Proposals: Gain valuable career development experience through contributing to and assisting with grant proposal writing and funding initiatives.
5. Implementation & Collaboration: Evaluate theoretical findings in simulation and on physical hardware testbeds, while collaborating with interdisciplinary researchers across UMD and partner organizations.

• Appointment: 12 months, with the potential for renewal subject to performance and funding availability.
• Start Date: As early as possible.

Qualifications

• Must be authorized to work in the United States. This position does not sponsor work visas.
• Ph.D. in Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated research experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Verification, validation, and certification of autonomous or AI systems
  • Safe autonomy, control theory, and decision-making under uncertainty
  • Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) / Drones and autonomous flight operations
  • Formal methods, safety-critical control (e.g., Control Barrier Functions), or trustworthy AI
• A strong publication record in autonomous systems, robotics, control, aerospace engineering, or related top-tier venues.
• Leadership and organizational skills suitable for assisting with project management and student mentoring across multiple active research efforts.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated self-starter capable of working independently while actively collaborating within a fast-paced lab environment.

How to Apply

To apply, please email Dr. Costello at dhcost@umd.edu with a single PDF file including:

• A cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) (maximum 2 pages)
• A brief research statement (maximum 1 pages) outlining your research vision and goals
• Contact information for at least 3 professional references

Full Consideration Date: December 1, 2026 (Applications received by this date will receive full consideration).