PhD Student in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

Luleå Tekniska Universitet · Full-time

Luleå, Sweden

Are you ready to take the next step in your academic journey? As a PhD student with us, 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 secure employment, high-quality supervision, and room to grow, both as a researcher and as a person. https://www.ltu.se/research/subjects/RoboticsAI?l=en, RAI, at the Department of System and Space Engineering at Luleå University of Technology is now seeking a PhD student to contribute to our growing activities. The RAI team conducts fundamental and principal research in 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 enhance robots' ability to interact with the environment and people while performing specific tasks. Project Description RAI's fundamental vision is to narrow the gap between theory and reality, and the team has a strong background in field robotics. Specific application areas we focus on are long-term autonomous missions in large and uncertain environments, semantic task planning with foundation models, agentic task decomposition and event-driven replanning, and autonomous semantically-aware inspection of complex infrastructure. The RAI team has strong European and national participation in several R&D&I projects. Job Responsibilities As a PhD student, you will conduct research with significant theoretical and experimental components to be published in peer-reviewed internationally recognized journals and at major conferences. The position includes supervision of theses and support in applications for funding from research financing agencies/councils, the EU Framework Programme, or industry. The position may also include teaching assistance, seminars, and presentations. You will work in the field of robot autonomy and all activities will be linked to national, European, and global R&D projects. The PhD position will involve intensive research activities in design, experimentation, and theoretical development. Research Areas: Long-term autonomy in uncertain environments a. Agentic planning and reasoning - Semantic task planning with foundation models - Task decomposition based on foundation models - Event-driven task replanning b. Autonomous inspection planning - Semantically-aware path planning - Multi-robot systems in large and degraded environments Qualifications To be qualified for the position, you must have a Master's degree in electrical engineering or mechanical engineering, computer science, or another relevant field. Strong knowledge of C++, Python, and ROS 2 is a requirement. Good scientific skills with proven proficiency in experimental research and excellent communication ability are a plus. You will represent the group in various contexts, both in Sweden and abroad, therefore excellent knowledge of English is a requirement. For additional information about specific PhD education, see http://www.ltu.se/research/Utbildning-pa-forskarniva/Studieplaner/Allmanna-studieplaner-Teknisk-fakultetsnamnd Information Employment as a PhD student is limited to 4 years; teaching and other institutional duties may be added up to 20% of full-time. Place of work Luleå and start date by agreement. For further information, please contact: George Nikolakopoulos, Professor and Subject Representative, 0920-49 1298 mailto:[email protected] Union Representatives: SACO-S Diana Chroneer, 0920-49 2037 mailto:[email protected] OFR-S Marika Vesterberg, 0920-49 1721 mailto:[email protected] Application We prefer that you apply for the position using the application button below. Your application should include a CV with a complete description of your scientific qualifications, a cover letter, at least two references who can provide recommendations, and copies of verified certificates from secondary school and university. The certificates should be written in Swedish or English. The application must be written in Swedish or English. Please mark your application with the reference number below. Application Deadline: October 1, 2026 Reference Number: 4647-2026