Tenure-track Professorship (W1) “Embodied Robotics”

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16.03.2026

We seek an outstanding individual in the field of robotics who is dedicated to advancing and representing the discipline in both research and teaching. The position particularly emphasizes the study of the interplay between the physical embodiment of robotic systems and the artificial intelligence implemented in software. We expect innovative and visionary research activities conducted on your own initiative, which may be situated in one or more of the following areas, for example

• Robotics Engineering
• Sensorimotor Intelligence
• Soft Robotics and Morphological Systems
• Autonomous and Learning Robots
• Foundation and World Models in Robotics
• Digital Twins and Data-Driven Simulations
• Multi-Robot Systems or Human–Robot Interaction
• Application-oriented Robotics, e.g., safe autonomous systems, mobility, automation, medicine, or care.

You will work in an interdisciplinary manner with research groups from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science at KIT, as well as with the new Research School for Applied AI connAIx . You will acquire competitive third-party funding from industry and funding agencies and transfer your research results into application.

The tenure-track professorship (W1) “Embodied Robotics” is embedded in the KIT Department of Mechanical Engineering. You will execute university tasks and as part of the tenure track, contribute 4 teaching hours per week during the first three years, and 6 hours after a positive mid-term evaluation, in both German and English language, using contemporary teaching and examination formats. One of the required languages may be acquired during the qualification phase. You will also shape the planned Master’s program “Robotics and Embodied AI” and thereby help advance the topics of digitalization and information technology in mechanical engineering. Participation in academic self-administration is expected.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.

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The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.

The profile of the Helmholtz Association

The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.

Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.

Promoting young academics

Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.

The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group , for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.

Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .

The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.

All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.

Company info

Telephone

0049-30-206329-0

Location

Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany