PhD Student in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

Luleå University of Technology is experiencing strong growth with world-leading expertise in several research areas. We shape the future through innovative education and groundbreaking research results, and from the Arctic region, we create global societal benefits. 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 2.1 billion SEK per year. We currently have 1,900 employees and 18,700 students.

In the coming years, multi-billion investments will be made in Norrbotten and Västerbotten in large projects aimed at a more sustainable society both nationally and globally. Luleå University of Technology is involved in several of these highly relevant research projects and the societal transformation that follows. We have a wide range of educational programs to match the skills in demand. We hope you want to help us build the sustainable companies and societies of the future.

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (RAI) at the Department of Systems and Space Technology at Luleå University of Technology is now seeking a PhD student to contribute to our growing activities. The RAI team conducts fundamental and principled research in all aspects of robotics with a specific focus on airborne, space, and bio-inspired robotics.

Subject Description

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence aim to develop new robotic systems characterized by advanced autonomy to improve the robots' ability to interact with the environment and people while performing specific tasks.

Project Description

The vision of RAI is to bridge the gap between theory and reality, and the team has a strong background in field robotics. The application areas we focus on include robotics for mining, airborne inspection of aging infrastructure, multi-robot search and rescue for emergency services, and similar. Furthermore, we work with multi-sensor fusion and multi-robot coordination, which includes environmental perception, decentralization, and execution of specified missions for multi-robot systems.

Responsibilities

You will conduct research with experimental elements that will be published in internationally recognized academic journals and at major conferences. You will also work with supervising theses, teaching assistance, and support in applying for funding for future research projects from research funding agencies/councils, EU projects, or industry.

As a PhD student, you will work within autonomous robotic systems, and the activities will be linked to national, European, and global R&D projects. The research topic is robotics and artificial intelligence. More specifically, the PhD positions will involve compact research activities in design, experimentation, and theory development:

• Field robotics and robot swarms with a focus on Arctic environments
• Task allocation, generation, and execution of tasks for non-heterogeneous swarms in large-scale missions
• Human-swarm interface including intention-aware swarms and task decomposition
• Distributed reconfiguration of robot swarms and communication-aware swarms
• Ground-air cooperation for complex task execution in challenging environments

For further information on specific PhD education, see the study plans for doctoral education within the Faculty of Technology.

Qualifications

To be qualified for the PhD position, you must have a five-year university degree in computer engineering, engineering physics, or another relevant subject. Good scientific skills and excellence in experimental research, as well as good communication skills in both spoken and written English, are required. You will represent the group in various contexts, both in Sweden and abroad, thus very good knowledge of English is a requirement.

Information

The PhD position is time-limited to 4 years, teaching and other departmental duties may be added up to 20% of full-time. Place of employment is Luleå and start date is negotiable.

For further information, please contact:
George Nikolakopoulos, Professor and Subject Representative, 0920-49 1298, [email protected]

Union representatives:
SACO-S Diana Chroneer, 0920-49 2037 [email protected]
OFR-S Marika Vesterberg, 0920-49 1721 [email protected]

Application

We prefer that you apply for the position via the application button below, where you attach a personal letter and CV/resume with scientific merits, at least two references, and copies of verified degree certificates. The degree certificates must be written in Swedish or English. The application must be written in English. Please mark your application with the reference number below.

Application deadline: February 24, 2026
Reference number: LTU-795-2026