At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Materials and Production a position as PhD stipend in Autonomous Systems in Uncertain Environments, within the doctoral programme Materials Science, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, is open for appointment from 01.09.2025 or soon thereafter. The position is available for a period of 3 years.
Job description
Autonomous systems and decision support systems will increasingly define the future. While significant strides have been made in the development of autonomous systems, their reliability and safety remain key concerns, particularly in environments characterized by uncertainty. The position is within the Artificial Intelligence for Operations Research (AI4OR) group at Aalborg University and the research will be conducted in highly synergic cooperation with leading Danish and European companies and international academic partners.
The PhD position is an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to creating trustworthy real-time autonomous systems. Collaborative endeavors with industrial and public partners guarantee the tangible application of the research, facilitating a substantial impact on the realm of autonomous technologies.
The PhD position will tackle these challenges by converging operational research, machine learning, and decision-making methodologies. The ultimate goal is to create real-time autonomous systems that are not only trustworthy but also adaptive in the face of unpredictable operational conditions.
The successful candidate will have a solid foundation in AI methods for predictive and/or proscriptive problems and will demonstrate the ability to use this background to:
Develop innovative decision-making strategies that seamlessly integrate operational research techniques and machine learning algorithms. Engineer solution algorithms and systems that enhance the robustness, flexibility, and adaptability of autonomous systems. Address multi-agent operations, where interactions between agents are intricate and interconnected. Ensure that the develop methodologies provide transparency and trustworthiness in the decision-making processes of autonomous systems. Disseminate research findings through academic journals and conferences. Collaborate with industrial and public partners to apply research outcomes in practical applications, bridging the gap between academia and industry.
Limited teaching within Global Business Engieering can be expected, but also in other study programmes at the University.
Your competencies
The Ph.D. candidate is expected to have:
- Bachelor's and Master's degrees (or equivalent) in Operations Research, Computer Science, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, or related fields.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or other programming languages.
- Familiarity with multi-agent systems, probability theory, and combinatorial optimization.
- Experience in decision-making under uncertainty and autonomous system operation.
- High level written and spoken English skills.
Qualification requirements
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time.
Who we are
The AI4OR group focuses on solving complex problems, which require high-level modelling, data analysis and management capabilities as well as developing solution algorithms, applying mathematical and computational approaches. The group has a particular focus on automated decision making in autonomous cyber-physical systems.
The Department of Materials and Production (MP) is a wide-ranging research and educational environment at Aalborg University. The Department's mission is to meet the future's demands for new materials and production systems by directing the whole value chain from basic material understanding to materials' applications in mechanical construction, industrial production, and management. The department has several strong, international, and innovative research groups that comprise everything from basic science to strategic and applied research. The activities encompass research and education within materials, mechanics, physics, production, and industrial management and innovation.
Several innovative and unconventional collaborations have been and are being developed through interdisciplinary cooperation, benefiting the industry and additional collaborators. As an employee at the department, you will become part of an international research environment focusing on innovation, knowledge sharing/building, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
The Department’s activities are supported by world-class laboratories and an important part of the research being done at the department. Specifically in relation to this position we have facilities for synthesis and characterization of materials covering the range from the atomic scale in the cleanroom and materials labs to fabrication of components and devices.
How to apply
Your application must include the following:
- Application, stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Transcripts and diplomas (bachelor's and, if possible, master's degree diploma)
- Brief description (maximum 1 page) of your motivation for the project stipend
- List of publications (if applicable)
- Other relevant documents
The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.
Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact Senior Researcher, Søren B. Vilsen, e-mail: svilsen@mp.aau.dk.
Further information
We recommend that you save a copy of the job posting, as it will be removed once the application deadline has passed.
The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.
The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.
Read more about The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science
Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish).
Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish).
Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.
INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:
- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:
Aalborg Kommune
-Virksomheden tilbyder:
-Arbejdsgiver:
Aalborg Universitet, Fibigerstræde, 9220 Aalborg Øst
-Ansøgning:
Ansøgningsfrist: 11-07-2025;
Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/0f6bab6d-04a6-4cca-84ee-984d51f2f54b
