Vacant job

Are you ready to take the next step in your academic journey? As a doctoral student here, you will work closely with leading researchers in a strong and international research environment, with access to advanced laboratory equipment and good funding opportunities. You are offered a secure employment, high-quality supervision, and room to grow, both as a researcher and as a person.

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (RAI) at the Department of Systems and Space Technology at Luleå University of Technology is now seeking a doctoral student to contribute to our growing operations. The RAI team conducts fundamental and principle-based research within all aspects of robotics with a specific focus on aerial, space, and bio-inspired robotics.

Subject Description

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence aims to develop new robotic systems characterized by advanced autonomy to improve the robots' ability to interact with the environment and humans during the execution of specific tasks.

Project Description

RAI's vision is to bridge the gap between theory and reality, and the team has a strong background in field robotics. Application areas we focus on include robotics for mines, aerial inspection of aging infrastructure, multi-robot search and rescue for emergency services, and similar fields. 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 are published in internationally recognized academic journals and at major conferences. You will also work with supervising thesis projects, teaching assistance, and support in applying for funding for future research projects from research funding agencies/councils, EU projects, or industry.

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

• Field robotics with a focus on Arctic environments
• Autonomous navigation and motion planning in sensor-degraded disaster environments
• Multimodal perception and localization for robots in extreme visibility conditions
• Source localization and risk assessment using multi-sensor fusion
• Semantics-based exploration strategies for high-risk robots in search and rescue
• Remote biometric analysis and triage assessment for field robotics in emergency operations

Qualifications

To qualify for the doctoral position, you must have a five-year university degree in computer science, technical physics, or another relevant subject. You must possess strong scientific skills and excellence in experimental research, as well as good communication skills in speech and writing. You will represent the group in various contexts, both in Sweden and abroad, therefore very good knowledge of English is required.

For additional information about the specific doctoral program, see http://www.ltu.se/research/Utbildning-pa-forskarniva/Studieplaner/Allmanna-studieplaner-Teknisk-fakultetsnamnd (http://www.ltu.se/research/Utbildning-pa-forskarniva/Studieplaner/Allmanna-studieplaner-Teknisk-fakultetsnamnd)

Information

The employment as a doctoral student is fixed-term for 4 years. Teaching and other institutional duties may be added up to 20% of full-time employment. Workplace: Luleå. Start date: by agreement.

For further information, please contact:

George Nikolakopoulos, Professor and Subject Representative, 0920-49 1298, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Union Representatives:

SACO-S Diana Chroneer, 0920-49 2037, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

OFR-S Marika Vesterberg, 0920-49 1721, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Application

We prefer that you apply for the position via the application button below, attaching a cover letter and CV/resume with academic 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: June 26, 2026

Reference Number: 3620-2026