Lund University, LTH, Department of Computer Science

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

Description of the workplace

The division for Robotics and Semantic Systems (RSS) consists of several, tightly collaborating research groups conducting research and education in Robotics and AI, Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Robot Learning, Machine Learning, Human-Robot Interaction and Natural Language Processing. The division runs, together with the Department for Automatic Control, the RobotLab LTH, a research and education facility equipped with a multitude of robotic and related systems, ranging from small drones and UAVs to classic industrial manipulators. The research topics also include, and this within national and international cooperations with academic and industrial partners, areas like autonomous cars or ships.

The overall goal for the researchers in RSS is to build intelligent autonomous (robotic) systems, i.e. equip the different types of systems with skills and knowledge that enable a smoother collaboration and interaction with humans in various contexts. The division consists currently of approximately 20 employees, of which about 10 are PhD students. This makes RSS one of the larger divisions within the department.

Being a doctoral student 

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University. 

As a doctoral student, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

More about being a doctoral student at LTH on lth.se. 

Subject and project description

The PhD project lies in the area of Human-Robot Interaction and will be supervised by Assoc. Prof. Elin A. Topp. The project will be part of a collaborative project with a research group at Linköping University (headed by Prof. Fredrik Heintz). This project targets agent-based multi-robot interaction within safety related applications (public safety / search and rescue), where mixed-initiative interaction will play a central roll (see also elliit.se/project/an-agentic-approach-to-mixed-initiative-multi-robot-interaction-for-public-safety-applications/).  The PhD program for the project part at Lund University is Computer Science, i.e. the focus will be on the computer science and computing related aspects of an overarching system that can cope with the complex context of interaction with a human and several (many) different robotic systems, to support the human in controlling the overall system and keeping their overview.

We are looking for a person with enthusiasm for the practical work within Robotics, still having a solid educational background within AI and Machine Learning, who has good theoretical and mathematical skills and knowledge, and who is keen on driving further the work with the next generation’s robotic systems, that can learn from and collaborate smoothly with humans.