I have a funded PDF position available in the Algorithms Optimization and Control Lab (AOCL) at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

We’re working with the Drone Transport Initiative (https://dronetransport.med.ubc.ca) to deliver medicine and blood products to and from remote communities using autonomous drones. This position involves developing autonomy algorithms for these drones.

This is a 2-3 year position and part of a 3 year proof-of-concept technology development program working to demonstrate drone-based delivery of medicine in Northern BC.

Scope of Work The Successful Applicant Will

- Develop and implement automated flight planning algorithms for long-range medical drones
- Work with industrial collaborators to deploy these algorithms on hardware
- Support regulatory filings to obtain flight approvals
- Support flight test campaigns (includes occasional travel to the Prince George area)

About The Lab The AOCL works broadly at the intersection of control, optimization, and computing. We apply control, optimization, game-theory and machine learning to solve problems in energy, manufacturing, robotics, and aerospace. We are hosted within the Department of Mechanical Engineering on UBCs Point Grey campus on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people, surrounded by forest, ocean and mountains. Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse cities in Canada, and one of the most livable cities in the world. The lab offers a friendly and stimulating environment and the prospect to become an expert in control, optimization, and computing while solving meaningful engineering problems.

Qualifications

- A PhD degree in engineering
- Background in Robotics, Mechanical, Electrical and/or Aerospace engineering
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Technical skills in path planning, optimization, control systems, C++, and ROS (or embedded systems)
- Experience with flight and/or robotic hardware testing
- The successful candidate will need to work collaboratively with Indigenous communities and stakeholders in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner.

If you have any questions Dominic Liao-McPherson | dliaomcp {at} mech.ubc.ca | https://mech.ubc.ca/dominic-liao-mcpherson/





How To Apply

- Submit the following documents by email at dliaomcp {at} mech.ubc.ca
- A resume/CV;
- A cover letter/statement of intent (including relevant experience, your research interests);

- Please submit all documents as a single .pdf file and use the following format for the email subject line: [DTI Postdoc application]: LastName, FirstName
- Please indicate in your submission if you are eligible to apply for an NSERC PDF Fellowships or Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards

- Those shortlisted for further consideration will be contacted for an online interview and given instructions about submitting a formal application.

We encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Due to the volume of emails received only those shortlisted will be contacted; I apologize in advance.

Key Dates

- February 2nd 2026 | First review date for applications
- March 1st 2026 | Last review date for applications (no applications will be considered after this date)
- The expected start date is April 2026 (or a mutually agreed upon time shortly thereafter)

Salary Ranges

- $70,000 - $80,000 per year + benefits
- Those holding major external awards (e.g., NSERC PDF Fellowships or Impact + Research Training Awards) are eligible for a top-up

This posting is for the UBC Vancouver campus in British Columbia, Canada. Please refer to reference number LI-58987 during correspondence about this position. Please visit the researcher profile of the supervisor [https://www.grad.ubc.ca/node/22973] for this position to learn more about their research.





Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C.

Human Rights

Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

About UBC The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC's entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

Postdoctoral Fellows at UBC Vancouver UBC is home to over 900 postdocs spanning all faculties and units across two campuses and a variety of affiliated hospitals, research centres, and sites, providing unparalleled opportunities to learn, discover and contribute in one's own way. UBC's Postdoctoral Fellows Office (PDFO) [ www.postdocs.ubc.ca/ ] is committed to supporting the lives and career aspirations of our Postdocs, with the goal of enriching their experience at UBC and preparing them for the future.

In addition to providing support and advocacy for all postdocs, the PDFO is dedicated to providing professional development opportunities [ www.postdocs.ubc.ca/professional-development-events ] that foster the development of soft skills needed in today's professional environments, helping them secure future careers in their chosen fields.

About Vancouver Vancouver is a dynamic, cosmopolitan and progressive city, consistently ranked as one of the top cities to live in the world. Canada's third largest city has it all: sea, parks, mountains, beaches, and four seasons per year, including beautiful summers and mild, wet winters with snow in the mountains. It's the perfect backdrop to your academic research.

📌 Postdoctoral Fellow Position in automated flight planning for medical drones (Vancouver)
🏢 The University of British Columbia
📍 Vancouver