The Ambient Intelligence Lab (AmI Lab) at the University of Texas at San Antonio is recruiting two fully funded PhD students to start in Spring or Fall 2026. The lab, led by Dr. Tianzhi He, is part of the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Construction Management at the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.

Research in the lab focuses on the intersection of human–building interaction, digital twins, AI agents, large language models (LLMs), wearable and embedded sensing, mixed reality (VR/AR/MR), and space habitats. The lab aims to create human-centric ambient intelligence for smart built environments, with ongoing projects in proactive building interfaces, smart building reasoning engines, IoT and energy management, physiological and environmental sensing, immersive design and training tools, and virtual/physical synchronization for monitoring and control. Applicants should have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Architectural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or similar) and demonstrated programming experience.

Desirable qualifications include a master's degree, prior research experience, machine learning/LLM skills, background in BIM, building systems, IoT, wearables, time-series data analysis, and exposure to VR/AR/MR workflows or digital twin platforms. The positions offer full tuition support and a competitive stipend. To apply, email Dr. Tianzhi He with your CV, cover letter, and writing samples, and submit a formal application to the UTSA Graduate School.

The deadline for applications is January 31, 2026. For more information, visit the recruitment page or contact Dr. He directly.