The Department of Computing at the University of Turku is looking for 1 fixed-term Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) in Robotics. The assignment begins in August 1, 2026, or upon mutual agreement. The position is fixed-term and will last until April 30, 2028.
Job description
The position is based in the Turku Intelligent Embedded and Robotic Systems (TIERS) lab in the Robotics and Autonomous Systems unit at the Department of Computing. TIERS is globally connected and focuses on integrating robotics and artificial intelligence across diverse fields. The core focus lies in developing heterogeneous, multifunctional robotic fleets for various applications within industrial and environmental settings. TIERS has a significant external project portfolio at both national and international levels.
The position is part of the Digital Waters (DIWA) flagship (end date April 30, 2028). DIWA enables a transition towards the digital representation of real-world water systems (Digital Twin). DIWA integrates cutting-edge research in robotics, machine learning, and sustainable engineering to enhance the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of autonomous systems. More information about DIWA can be found at https://digitalwaters.fi/.
Who we are looking for
We invite applications from highly motivated master’s degree students with a strong interest in mobile robotics and machine learning. Examples of areas of interest include communication-aware navigation towards complex and unstructured environments, cooperative control and distributed learning for multi-robot system. We value a background in areas such as robotics, machine learning, communication technology, computer science or related fields, and eagerness to deploy real-world robotic systems (aerial, ground or surface robotics). Possible application fields include, for example, environmental monitoring, search and rescue, mobile ad-hoc network as well as agriculture and forestry.
Required qualifications and experience:
- Master’s degree in computer science, robotics and automation, data science, or closely related field
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
- Applicants must have excellent written and oral English proficiency and a certificate that proves those skills. Please read more about the language requirements: https://www.utu.fi/en/research/utugs/how-to-apply/language
Desired qualifications, experience and skills:
- Independence, collaboration, problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills
- Practical hands-on experience with various mobile robotic platforms including aerial, ground or surface robots (one or more) and mechatronic systems
- Strong programming skills (e.g., Python, C/C++)
- Experience in ROS/ROS2 and Linux operating systems
- Strong hands-on experience with integration of wireless communication network with robotic platforms
- A background in one or more of the following (not limited to):
- Autonomous navigation, mapping, and exploration
- Distributed control of multi-robot systems
- Multi-modal perception, sensor fusion, and state estimation (e.g., via LiDAR and vision)
- Machine Learning including deep learning and generative AI
- Communication technology and networking
Your responsibilities encompass, but are not limited to:
- Carry out research
- Take part in education and teaching activities
- Supervise MSc (Tech) students
Additional requirements:
Qualification requirements
The eligibility criteria for prospective applicants are defined in the University of Turku Rules of Procedure: university-of-turku-rules-of-procedure.pdf.
A person selected for the post of Doctoral Researcher is required to have a right to pursue a doctoral degree at University of Turku. In addition, when acquiring their degree or otherwise, they are required to have demonstrated the ability to undertake postgraduate studies and the capacity to complete a doctoral degree in accordance with the research plan.
Please note that before obtaining the study right for a Doctoral Program, the job title will be Project Researcher, and the duration of the contract is 6 months. The candidate is expected to apply for the study right in the next available call to e.g. the Doctoral Programme in Technology.
Thus, please check the student information and application criteria Doctoral Programme in Technology - Admission Criteria and Instructions for Applicants | University of Turku (please pay attention to the mandatory skill level in English).
Read more about the University of Turku's doctoral programmes and how to apply for study rights Join us for your doctoral studies at the University of Turku! | University of Turku
In exceptional cases, we may also consider applicants who have completed nearly all the studies required for a master's degree in a relevant field. In such cases, the job title at the start of the employment will be Research Assistant and the starting salary (OV1) is on average 2400 euros/month, depending on competence and experience.
We value collegiality and promote equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We encourage all qualified applicants with different backgrounds to apply for our open positions.
