Come onboard

Work Opportunities

Our lab isn’t just for students – we also welcome postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, and collaborators who want to contribute to our mission. Here’s an overview of opportunities to work with us and what to expect as part of the RAP Lab team.

Who We’re Looking For

Passionate researchers and innovators

The RAP Lab is always interested in people who are excited about human–technology interaction and eager to contribute to our projects. This could be a postdoctoral fellow with a fresh PhD, a research assistant with technical skills, or even a visiting scholar or collaborator from another institution. We value diversity in expertise – whether your background is in robotics, computer science, psychology, design, business, or something entirely different, what matters most is that you share our curiosity about “artificial persons” and their impact on the world.

Young technician wearing safety goggles working with machinery in an industrial setting.

Students engaged in assembling a robotics project in an educational lab setting.

Skills and Teamwork mindset

Ideal team members are self-motivated and collaborative. Perhaps you’ve built social robots or conducted user studies, or you have strong data analysis and coding abilities – we can put those skills to good use. But equally important is your mindset: we look for individuals who are open-minded, keen to learn from others, and comfortable working across disciplines. If you enjoy creative problem-solving and aren’t afraid to venture beyond your comfort zone, you’ll fit right in with our team.

What the Work Looks Like

Joining the RAP Lab means becoming part of a supportive research team. Here’s what day-to-day life as a member with us could look like:

Designing and running experiments: Planning a user study on how people respond to a new chatbot, setting up a human-robot interaction experiment, or conducting interviews/observations for a qualitative project.
Building and coding: Writing software for robot behaviors, creating prototype interfaces, or tinkering with AI models that drive our “artificial persons.” Don’t worry – team members collaborate and share code, so you won’t be on an island.
Analyzing data: Crunching numbers from surveys or experiments, analyzing video footage of interactions, or interpreting interview transcripts. Our projects use both quantitative and qualitative methods, so there’s always a chance to learn a new analysis technique.
Writing and publishing: Contributing to research papers, lab reports, or articles. We love to publish our findings, and you’ll often be writing or editing alongside us. If you’re a postdoc, you might lead a paper with students as co-authors; if you’re an RA, you’ll get credit for the work you do on publications.
Brainstorming and learning: Participating in lab meetings and brainstorming sessions is a regular part of the job. We have an open forum where everyone’s ideas are welcomed – some of our best project ideas have come from casual team discussions! You’ll also join reading groups or training sessions to expand your skills.

Our Culture & Mentorship

Joining the RAP Lab as a staff member or postdoc means becoming part of an inclusive, collaborative team where every voice matters. Prof. Saunderson leads with a servant-leadership approach—removing obstacles, offering guidance, and encouraging you to take ownership of work that excites you. We balance high-quality research with a friendly, flexible environment that values shared learning, well-being, and open communication.

Flat hierarchy: We keep things informal and inclusive. Prof. Saunderson works alongside you, values your ideas, and ensures every voice is heard—whether you’re new or highly experienced.

Servant leadership: Shane’s approach focuses on guidance, removing roadblocks, and helping you grow. Expect regular check-ins, openness to your ideas, and encouragement to take ownership of projects you love.

Peer mentorship: We learn from each other’s strengths. Postdocs mentor students, RAs share skills, and everyone’s expertise shapes our work. Postdocs gain supervisory experience; RAs are treated as valued colleagues.

Work-life balance: We support flexible schedules and remote work when needed. Breaks, vacations, and life outside the lab are encouraged. We celebrate wins, tackle challenges together, and keep the atmosphere friendly.

Ready to connect

Connect with us to discuss next steps