PhD position on Embodied AI for Robotics

Join us for a groundbreaking project HumAMI to research and develop AI models for Robotics. Collaborate with top research labs and innovative companies to push the frontiers in Vision Language Action (VLA) models and physical AI.

Job Description

As a fully-paid 4-year PhD student you will join the international research project on next-generation multimodal, open-source embodied AI models. You’ll be part of an excellent team of scientists, covering the full spectrum from model development to evaluation and real-world use cases. The key challenge is to enable robotic systems to understand highly dynamic environments (e.g. medical intervention and diagnostics rooms) and operate accurately and safely together with the humans side-by-side.

The Role

We are looking for an exceptional researcher with a real passion for embodied AI, with a deep understanding of the latest developments and eager to explore new avenues of research. In this role, you will design and build cutting-edge methods to bring multi-modal 3D perception, accuracy and real-timeliness to robot operation, with a special emphasis on Vision Language Action models. The role also involves publishing results in top-tier conferences and journals, as well as engaging with industrial partners and AIMS lab TU/e researchers.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in machine learning and artificial intelligence, preferably with experience in embodied AI, robotics, or autonomous systems.
• Hands-on experience with deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) and proficiency in programming languages such as Python and C++.
• Background in processing and analyzing sensor data (e.g., RGB, depth, LiDAR, radar, or other multi-modal inputs) and familiarity with computer vision or signal processing methods.
• Skills in experimental design, simulation or robotics middleware (e.g., ROS), data collection, and rigorous quantitative evaluation.
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, AI, or a closely related field.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English, with an interest in publishing and presenting research results.

Limitation:

Please do not apply if your background is connected to Iran, China or Russia.

Conditions of Employment

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend only 5-10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 2,901 max. € 3,707).
• On top, a year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills and topics related to research and valorization.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and a compensation for moving expenses.

Research Lab Description

The AIMS lab at Eindhoven University of Technology focuses on developing advanced AI models for systems equipped with diverse, multi-modal sensors. The team of 20 researchers builds expertise in analyzing data from RGB, thermal, depth, LiDAR, acoustic, sonar, and radar sensors to achieve rich environmental understanding. The lab aims to approximate human-like multi-sensory perception and full situational awareness that can be also applied for robotic control. This research directly supports industrial partners in areas such as public safety and security, defense, critical infrastructure inspection, and healthcare, providing a strong applied focus and real-world impact.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application using the apply-button. The application should include a:

• Extended curriculum vitae, including the contact information of two references.
• Your MSc and BSc transcripts.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.