PhD Student in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (RAI)

Luleå University of Technology is in strong growth with world-leading competence in several research areas. We shape the future through innovative education and ground-breaking research results, and based on the Arctic region, we create global social benefit. Our scientific and artistic research and education are conducted in close collaboration with international, national and regional companies, public actors and leading universities. Luleå University of Technology has a total turnover of nearly SEK 2.1 billion per year. We currently have 1,900 employees and 18,700 students.

In the coming years, multi-billion investments will be made in large projects in Northern Sweden to create a fossil-free society both nationally and globally. Luleå University of Technology is involved in several of these cutting-edge research projects and in the societal transformation that they entail. We offer a broad range of courses and study programmes to match the skills in demand. We hope that you will help us to build the sustainable companies and societies of the future.

We are looking for a PhD student in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (RAI) (https://www.fieldrobotics.eu/) based at the Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering as part of the national research program WASP. Robotics and AI - Luleå University of Technology (https://ltu.se)

Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP)

WASP is Sweden’s largest individual research program ever, a major national initiative for strategically motivated basic research, education, and faculty recruitment. The program addresses research on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems acting in collaboration with humans, adapting to their environment through sensors, information, and knowledge, and forming intelligent systems-of-systems. The vision of WASP is excellent research and competence in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and software for the benefit of Swedish society and industry. Read more: WASP (https://wasp-sweden.org/)

Subject Description

Robotics and artificial intelligence aim to develop novel robotic systems that are characterized by advanced autonomy for improving the ability of robots to interact with the surrounding environment and humans during the execution of specific tasks.

Project Description

The vision of RAI is aiming to close the gap from theory to real life, while the team has strong expertise in field robotics. As a PhD student, you will have the opportunity to contribute within one or more of these focus areas, engaging in both theoretical and experimental research in:

• Autonomy with collaborative intelligence
• Collaborative task and motion planning
• Multi-agent decision-making and coordination
• Distributed coverage, exploration, and source seeking
• Cooperative manipulation and interaction
• Data-driven and learning-based control
• Data-driven adaptive motion planning
• Multi-agent reinforcement learning
• Cognitive reasoning, symbolic knowledge representation
• Generative AI in robotics
• Resilient autonomy for extreme environments
• Risk-aware navigation in unstructured environments
• Motion planning with embodied mobility
• Floating-based manipulation
• Resilient and self-recovering autonomy

Duties

As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. You are expected to perform both experimental and theoretical work within your research studies as well as communicate your results at national and international conferences and in scientific journals. Most of your working time will be devoted to your own research studies. In addition, you can have the opportunity to try the teacher role or other department duties, up to a maximum of 20% of full-time. As a researcher, you work as a neutral part in many contexts, which provides a great opportunity to be involved in challenging development projects.

Qualifications

We seek a highly motivated doctoral student eager to make a difference in robotics and artificial intelligence. Candidates should have a master’s degree in electrical engineering or computer science or completed coursework amounting to at least 240 ECTS-credits including at least 60 ECTS-credits from the second cycle in the field of electrical engineering or computer science; alternatively demonstrated essentially equivalent knowledge. We expect candidates to have previous experience in areas such as control engineering, reinforcement learning, and field robotics. Furthermore, candidates should have excellent study results, very good programming skills, and high proficiency in oral and written communication in English. Experience in Field Robotics and real-world experimentation will be highly considered as a merit.

Further Information

Employment as a PhD student is limited to 4 years, teaching and other department duties may be added with max 20%. Placement: Luleå. Starting date: 01 October 2025.

For further information about the position, please contact George Nikolakopoulos, Chaired Professor, (+46) 920 49 1298, geonik@ltu.se (mailto:geonik@ltu.se)

Union Representatives:

SACO-S Diana Chroneer, (+46) 920-49 2037, diana.chroneer@ltu.se (mailto:diana.chroneer@ltu.se)
OFR-S Lars Frisk, (+46) 920-49 1792, lars.frisk@ltu.se (mailto:lars.frisk@ltu.se)

In case of different interpretations of the English and Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

Application

We prefer that you apply for this position by clicking on the apply button below. The application should include a CV, personal letter, and copies of verified diplomas from high school and universities. Mark your application with the reference number below. Your application, including diplomas, must be written in English or Swedish.

Closing date for applications: 02 May 2025
Reference number: 1516-2025