Høgskulen På Vestlandet

Førde

Per Christian Engdal

Assistant head of department 

Erik Kyrkjebø

Professor

<h2>Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) has a vacancy for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Data-assisted Rehabilitation for Upper-Limb after Stroke</h2>We are looking for a highly motivated and talented Postdoc research fellow to join the HVL Robotics Lab. The position is associated with the research project “SARHA – data-driven rehabilitation after stroke” – a cross-disciplinary initiative in the Strategic University Program on Digital Health between the Faculty of Technology, Environmental and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, and Helse Førde Hospital. If you are interested in the application of machine learning and mathematical modelling to motion estimation and data analysis to improve upper-limb rehabilitation after stroke, this position could be for you. <h2>About the project:</h2>More than 12 million people worldwide experience a stroke annually, and the number is expected to rise by 50% over the next few years because of an aging population. Stroke patients are a heterogeneous group and are among the patient groups with the greatest need for long-term and coordinated rehabilitation. Early treatment, close follow-up and monitoring, and motivating patients’ rehabilitation efforts are closely linked to the success of regaining motor functions after stroke. There is a large potential for more automatic and objective functional assessment of stroke patients, both for classification, to decide on the best rehabilitation training strategy, for monitoring and closely follow up on progress, and to adjust training plans and difficulty levels for exercises. The Postdoctoral research fellow will develop methods and algorithms for personalised adaptive data-driven rehabilitation with the goal of estimating the potential functional outcomes of rehabilitation. The project will build on the results of ongoing projects in which sensor fusion from multimodal sensor data collected with a range of motion sensors (cameras, IMUs, and EMGs) is used to create a systematic progress measurement system for rehabilitation. The Postdoctoral research project will leverage knowledge of motion sensors, machine and robot learning methods, and motion modelling to predict possible rehabilitation outcomes for patients. The Postdoctoral Fellow will collaborate closely with PhD Research Fellows at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Technology, Environmental and Social Sciences in a cross-disciplinary effort for more data-driven rehabilitation after stroke.The Postdoctoral Fellow will have their place of work and affiliation with the HVL Robotics Lab at the Faculty of Technology, Environmental and Social Sciences at campus Førde.Starting Date: 15 October 2026 or earlier.Research environmentThe Postdoctoral Fellow will be part of the <a href="https://www.hvl.no/robotics" rel="nofollow">HVL Robotics Lab</a>, a research and innovation centre for robotics at HVL. HVL Robotics has access to state-of-the-art research facilities on robotics at Campus Førde and a field lab for robotic research at Campus Sogndal (Leikanger). The Postdoctoral Fellow will also be encouraged to participate in the supervision of PhD, MSc, and BSc candidates. The Postdoctoral research fellow will work closely with the staff members of the HVL robotics group team and other staff members at HVL associated with the “SARHA” project. The candidate will benefit from working with colleagues with expertise at the intersection of robotics, sensors, and machine learning in the HVL Robotics Lab and with experts in health services for physical rehabilitation therapy at Helse Førde Hospital. The candidate will also collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the project, including public sector health services and relevant companies in the health industry. The Postdoctoral Fellow will receive an annual stipend for conference participation, research visits, and equipment.  <h2>Qualifications:</h2>The applicant must hold a PhD degree, or have submitted the doctoral dissertation by the application deadline, in Robotics, Engineering Cybernetics, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field. Candidates must have experience with machine and robot learning (deep reinforcement learning, learning from demonstration) and motion control (motion sensing, kinematic and dynamic modelling, motion learning, and motion control), and explicitly state their qualifications for these topics in their application. Applicants for the position will be ranked based on the following: <ul><li>Relevant research experience and high-quality publications on machine learning and motion control</li><li>Competence and grades on completed course work</li><li>Relevant experience in robotics and machine learning</li><li>Relevant experience with motion sensors (cameras, IMUs, EMGs, force/torque sensors, etc.)</li><li>Previous involvement in relevant research and innovation projects</li><li>The ability to carry out and publish high-quality research </li><li>Proficiency in English and in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language</li></ul>The following qualifications will be considered advantageous when applicants are ranked:<ul><li>Practical programming skills such as ROS, Matlab, Python, </li><li>Previous experience with experimental research and prototyping </li><li>Previous experience in supporting relevant MSc and BSc projects</li><li>Previous experience in teaching relevant subjects</li><li>Knowledge and understanding of the Norwegian Health Care system</li><li>Possibility to timely start in the position</li></ul>The following applicant characteristics will also be considered:<ul><li>Confidence in working independently as a researcher, and in cross-disciplinary teams with health partners</li><li>Capacity for dissemination and ability to positively contribute to advancement of digital health research at HVL </li><li>Potential for establishing relevant national and international research contacts </li><li>Excellent communication skills</li></ul>Applicants should explicitly address the qualifications and ranking criteria listed above in their application and provide sufficient documentation in their application to support the listed qualifications. About the position of Postdoctoral Fellow:The candidate must hold a PhD or have submitted their doctoral dissertation for evaluation by the application closing date. It is a condition for appointment that the dissertation is approved. Individuals may not be hired for more than one fixed-term period as a postdoctoral research fellow at the same institution. The postdoctoral position is for a 3-year fixed term, with the primary objective of qualifying the appointee for work in an Associate Professor position. If the appointee is interested and the institution needs additional teaching staff, the employment period may be extended by up to one year. In such cases, teaching and other duties will be added to the position. A career plan will be developed in cooperation with the supervisor and assistant head of department, specifying the competencies the Postdoctoral Fellow should acquire in the position. If the Postdoctoral Fellow does not already have educational qualifications that meet the requirements for an associate professor position, HVL shall facilitate the acquisition of such competence during the employment period. The candidate is expected to carry out high-quality research and publish the results in international workshops, conferences, and journals. Candidates should be proficient in written and spoken English, and any formal training or proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language will be considered an advantage when ranking candidates due to close collaboration with Norwegian stakeholders in the project and teaching duties. The ability to start the position on the project start date will be considered an advantage when candidates are ranked because of the time frame of the project and its link to other research activities conducted in parallel to this postdoctoral project. Engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and the acts relating to the Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services, and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to HVL. <h2>Application procedure:</h2>Applications will be evaluated by an expert panel of three members.Applicants are asked to submit their applications and CV online. Please use the link “Apply for this job” (“Søk stillingen”). The following documentation must be uploaded as an attachment to the online application: <ul><li>Copies of selected academic publications (no more than 5) </li><li>A CV with a complete list of academic publications, teaching activities and relevant experience</li><li>Relevant diplomas and certificates documenting qualifications for the PhD and master’s degrees.</li><li>PhD thesis if in English or a Scandinavian language, or a resume of the thesis in English if written in another language</li><li>Master thesis if in English or a Scandinavian language, or a resume of the thesis in English if written in another language Documents related to other achievements relevant to the position</li><li>The names of two contacts who are willing to act as references for the applicant</li></ul>Applicants should indicate which projects/publications or parts of projects/publications should be given special consideration in the evaluation process. If the documents submitted are not in a Scandinavian language or English, the applicants must submit certified translations. The transcripts must specify the topics, course works, and grades at the PhD and master&#96;s degree levels.Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview and may be required to give a lecture as part of the interview.Applicants with a degree from a country other than Norway, need to attach a certified translation of the diploma and transcripts of grades to English or a Scandinavian language, in addition to the original documents, if the original is not in any of these languages. It is required that the applicant encloses a recognition document showing that their degree is equivalent to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD. <a href="https://hkdir.no/en/foreign-education/education-from-outside-of-norway/recognition-of-foreign-higher-education-bachelor-master-and-phd" rel="nofollow">You can read more about applying for recognition of foreign higher education here.</a>The Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) offers an automatic recognition document for certain degrees from selected countries. If the applicant’s degree is covered by the automatic recognition, it will be sufficient to attach this document. <a href="https://hkdir.no/en/foreign-education/education-from-outside-of-norway/recognition-of-foreign-higher-education-bachelor-master-and-phd/automatic-recognition-a-quicker-alternative" rel="nofollow">Read more about automatic recognition here.</a>As the HK-dir application process may take some time it is recommended to apply to HK-dir as soon as possible. If you have not received a recognition document from HK- dir within the  application deadline, please enclose documentation from HK-dir showing that they have received your application.Applicants should note that the evaluation will be based on the documentation submitted electronically via Jobbnorge within the submission deadline. The applicants are responsible for ensuring that all the documentation is submitted before the closing date. It is of utmost importance that all publications to be considered in the evaluation are uploaded as an attachment with the application, since these are sent electronically to the expert panel. Applications cannot be sent by e-mail or to individuals at the college. <h2>Salary:</h2><ul><li>Good occupational pension, insurance and loan schemes from The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund</li><li>Exciting academic environment with the possibility of competence enhancement and development</li><li>Opportunities for training within the working hours </li></ul> The Postdoctoral position is compensated according to position code 1352 - postdoktorThere is a compulsory 2 % deduction to the pension fund (see <a href="http://www.spk.no" rel="nofollow">http://www.spk.no </a>for more information). The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time. <h2>General information:</h2>The appointment will be made in accordance with the regulations for State employees Law in Norway (&#34;Lov om statens ansatte)&#34;. Organizational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities associated with the position must be expected.State employment shall reflect the multiplicity of the population at large to the highest possible degree. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences has therefore adopted a personnel policy objective to ensure that we achieve a balanced age and gender composition and the recruitment of persons of various ethnic backgrounds.Information about the applicant may be made public even though the applicant has requested not to be named in the list of applicants. The applicant will be notified if his/her request is not respected.Short-listed applicants will be called in for an interview.Employed on condition that you are granted a work and residence permit.Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is subjected to The Export Control Regulation. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications.  <h2>Inclusion, challenging norms, collaboration</h2><a href="http://www.hvl.no" rel="nofollow">Homepage</a>