Dr. Masahiro Ono is seeking an outstanding postdoctoral researcher to join the newly launching Planetary Robotics Lab (PRL) at Georgia Institute of Technology. This postdoc will play a foundational role as a close collaborator in building the lab from the ground up. 

Qualifications:

Dr. Ono is looking for a candidate who: 

• Is a highly experienced robotics researcher with strong hands-on mechatronics skills
• Has a strong publication record and academic potential
• Has a genuine passion for both robotics and space exploration
• Can start between August 2026 and January 2027

About the position:

• Initial appointment: 2 years
• Potential extension depending on performance and future funding availability
• Location: in person in Atlanta, GA
• Candidates from robotics, mechanical engineering, aerospace, computer science, or related fields are encouraged to apply.

How to apply:

Please fill in this web form. Please make sure to attach your CV.

https://forms.gle/q1tVNip6xfhvmhDA7

Priority consideration for applications received by May 15, 2026

Questions may be directed to ono@gatech.edu

About the Planetary Robotics Lab:

The goal of PRL is to create technologies that will one day enable deep exploration of unvisited planetary destinations—including icy moons, small bodies, Kuiper Belt Objects, and possibly beyond. The near-term research directions include:

• 🧊 Icy World Robotics: Adaptive mobility on horizontal and vertical icy terrain on Earth and on icy moons
• 🦵 Neurotactile Locomotion: Robust locomotion on extreme terrain by combining tactile, visual, acoustic, and proprioceptive sensing with data-driven algorithms
• 🧠 Interplanetary Foundation Models: Multimodal AI models for robotic perception and planning with strong interplanetary generalization and adaptability
• 🌖 Lunar Tech Demo Mission: Sending our robot(s) to the Moon to validate these capabilities before this decade is out

About the PI - Masahiro (Hiro) Ono:

Dr. Ono has spent the past 13 years as a roboticist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and will join Georgia Institute of Technology as an Associate Professor in July 2026. At JPL, Hiro developed autonomous driving capabilities for the Perseverance rover on Mars, led development of a snake robot for exploring the subsurface ocean of Enceladus, and conducted research on AI for planetary exploration.

JPL profile: https://www-robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/who-we-are/people/masahiro_ono/

Blog: https://hiroono.com/