Openings

CLIMB Lab is always interested in hearing from motivated students and researchers working on physical AI, bioinspired robotics, hybrid and multimodal locomotion, and intelligent systems for manufacturing.

Current opening: Postdoctoral Researcher / Research Assistant — AI & Robotics (Aug–Sep 2026)

We're looking for a postdoc or research assistant (Master's or higher) to support collaborative industrial R&D projects with Korean SMEs under the TIPA International Joint R&D Program. The work sits at the intersection of robotics and AI, spanning physical AI for smart manufacturing, tactile sensing with on-sensor AI for robotic grippers, and AI-based robot control generation and simulation. You'd contribute across multiple projects at once — system design, algorithm development, performance evaluation, and interfacing with industrial partners.

What we're looking for:

• Background in robotics and AI — perception, planning, control, learning, or hardware are all relevant
• Hands-on hardware experience is a plus, but strong software, modeling, or AI/ML skills are equally welcome
• Comfortable working across multiple projects simultaneously
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or those already holding a valid Canadian work permit are strongly preferred
• Available to start as soon as possible

Terms: one-year initial contract, with the possibility of extension for an additional 18 months (30 months total).

You'd be based at CLIMB Lab, working with Prof. Pakpong Chirarattananon and collaborating closely with Prof. Peyman Mohajerin Esfahani, both in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at U of T.

To apply, send a CV and a brief note about your background and interest to p.chirarattananon@utoronto.ca.

PhD and MASc students

We recruit through the University of Toronto Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering's graduate research programs. A few things worth knowing before you apply:

• PhD positions are open to domestic and international applicants. Guaranteed net stipend starts at over $32,000/year, for up to four years (five for direct-entry PhD); more with external scholarships.
• MASc positions in this lab are for domestic students (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) only, due to funding sources tied to Canadian eligibility. Guaranteed net stipend starts at over $24,000/year, for up to two years.
• See MIE's funding policy page for exact, current figures by student and award type.
• Applicants who already hold or are competitive for their own fellowship (e.g. NSERC, OGS, Vanier, a home-country or foundation award) are very welcome to reach out. Having your own funding widens what's possible and is never a downside.
• Same application deadline for all applicants regardless of citizenship: January 1 (application fee) / January 15 (materials) for a September start; October 1 / October 15 for a January start.

Reach out before or while applying to discuss fit, and mention Pakpong as your intended supervisor in your application. See MIE's scholarships & funding page for the full list of external awards (NSERC/CIHR/SSHRC CGS, OGS, Vanier, QEII-GSST) worth applying for alongside your admission.

Graduate exchange students

We also welcome graduate students already enrolled elsewhere (domestic or international) who want to spend a term or more doing research with the lab, through U of T's visiting and exchange graduate student arrangements. Exchange students are expected to bring their own funding from their home institution or program, as is standard for these arrangements.

Postdoctoral researchers

The lab periodically hires postdoctoral researchers across its broader research areas, including physical AI, bioinspired robotics, aerial and hybrid multimodal locomotion, soft and reconfigurable robotic systems, intelligent mechanism design, and robotics for manufacturing. Reach out directly to check current availability.

Undergraduate students

Current University of Toronto undergraduates (MIE or otherwise) are welcome to reach out, particularly for:

• Final Year Thesis / Capstone projects supervised by the lab, through MIE's Capstone program.
• Summer research, through the MIE Summer Research Award (full-time, May to August). This is a funded position and the application route depends on citizenship: domestic students should apply for an NSERC USRA and are automatically considered for the MIE award; international and first-year students apply directly to the MIE Research Award.

How to apply

Email p.chirarattananon@utoronto.ca with your CV, transcripts, a brief note on your research interests, and how they connect to the lab's work. This is encouraged for everyone and helps us assess fit early, but it does not replace formal admission: PhD and MASc applicants must still submit a complete application through the University of Toronto's official graduate application system by the relevant deadline.