PhD position in Human-Robot Interaction
SDU Robotics, part of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), invites applications for a PhD position, where the candidate will work on projects involving human-robot interaction and humanoid robotics.
The position is open for both 5+3 PhD applicants (candidates with a completed master’s degree within a relevant field of study by the starting date) and 4+4 PhD applicants (only relevant for candidates enrolled in a master’s programme at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, who has completed 1 year (60 ECTS credits) of studies by the starting date. You must state clearly in your application documents whether you apply for the 5+3 or the 4+4 PhD programme.
The starting date is September 1, 2024. The workplace is at SDU's main campus in Odense, Denmark, and the work is expected to be primarily onsite.
The application deadline is August 3, 2025, at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST)
What we offer
- An exciting opportunity to work at the cutting edge of robotics for real-world applications.
- A collaborative and supportive work environment that encourages innovation and creativity.
- Opportunities for professional growth and leadership.
- Access to state-of-the-art technology and resources.
Project description
We are currently working on the HospiBot project in which we are designing, developing and evaluating a modular interactive robot system for various service tasks for hospitals. In a second project we will be developing and testing an interactive high performance AI-enabled upper-torso humanoid robot for use in tasks on assembly lines and at chemical laboratories. In the third project we are evaluating the use of medical assistive technologies like an automatic arthritis scanning robot in user studies in Denmark and Germany.
The aim of this PhD project is to contribute to these projects, especially in terms of:
- Improving the robots’ interactive capabilities using LLMs and generative AI as well as non-verbal communication techniques, e.g. gaze tracking.
- Conducting human-robot interaction studies with the goal of incrementally improving the robots’ abilities to complete their tasks.
Profile and requirements for 5+3 applicants
The position requires a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master’s degree) within robotics or related fields and the candidate is expected to have a profound knowledge of the majority of the following topics:
The candidate is expected to have a profound knowledge of the majority of the following topics:
- Human-robot interaction
- Large Language Models / Generative AI
- Humanoid robotics
Preferably, the candidate has experience with:
- CAD for designing robots
- Medical robotics
- Experimental design and data analysis
We are looking for highly motivated and ambitious candidates with excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken), who can work well in an interdisciplinary team as well as independently and quickly acquire knowledge in new topics.
Profile and requirements for 4+4 applicants
To apply for the 4+4 PhD position, it is required that the applicant is enrolled in a master’s programme (kandidatuddannelse) at the Faculty of Engineering, SDU, and has completed the first year at the time for enrollment. Preferably the candidate is enrolled in the master’s programme Robot Systems Engineering.
The candidate is expected to have a profound knowledge of the majority of the following topics:
- Human-robot interaction
- Large Language Models / Generative AI
- Humanoid robotics
Preferably, the candidate has experience with:
- CAD for designing robots
- Medical robotics
- Experimental design and data analysis
We are looking for highly motivated and ambitious candidates with excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken), who can work well in an interdisciplinary team as well as independently and quickly acquire knowledge in new topics.
Research environment
The candidate will be integrated in the section SDU Robotics, which is at the core of the Odense Robotics Cluster involving Universal Robots, Mobile Industrial Robots (MIR) and 120+ other companies. We are a team of appr. 60 researchers and engineers specialized in robot solutions involving modelling, estimation, and control of advanced robot technologies.
The group is involved in a variety of national and European projects and features a strong network of academic and industrial partners. We solve challenging research problems from real applications and implement novel robot solutions together with end users such as hospitals, Novo Nordisk, LEGO and Danfoss.
We value teamwork, professional diligence, enthusiasm for robotics and the drive to adopt new skills and extended responsibilities. We offer an open, international team with flexible work organization and support for individual development.
Further information
Please visit us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sdu-robotics.
Further information about this position is available via email from Associate Professor Oskar Palinko ospa@mmmi.sdu.dk.
If you experience technical problems, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk.
Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.
Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.
The application deadline is August 3, 2025, at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST)
Apply from our website - here you'll also find requirements for application procedure and information about conditions of employment.
Please note in your application that you found the job at Jobindex
