The ACENTAURI team at Inria Centre d'Université Côte d'Azur is offering a 24-month postdoctoral position focused on quantum machine learning for robotics. The research centers on developing a novel teacher–student framework where a quantum model acts as a teacher, transferring knowledge to a classical model suitable for real-time robotic inference. The project aims to leverage quantum advantages in embedded robotic systems without requiring quantum hardware at deployment.

Key research areas include designing quantum-to-classical distillation strategies, evaluating robustness and deployability in robotic settings, and benchmarking under realistic constraints such as latency, energy, and reliability. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to publish results in leading international venues and may optionally participate in teaching activities.

Applicants should have a PhD in quantum theory or machine learning, with strong expertise in at least two of the following: knowledge distillation/model compression, quantum machine learning (quantum kernels, variational circuits), experimental ML methodology, robotics/autonomy. Proficiency in Python and experience with a quantum SDK (e.g., Qiskit) are expected. Application materials include a motivation letter, a recommendation letter from the PhD supervisor, and a CV with publication list.

The ACENTAURI team specializes in intelligent, autonomous, and mobile robots, focusing on perception, decision, and control for multi-robot collaboration. Research interests span artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, human-robot interaction, and more. The team collaborates with industrial partners and demonstrates approaches on real robotic systems such as cars, AGVs, and UAVs.

For more information, visit the ACENTAURI team website or the provided LinkedIn posts. The application deadline is March 13th, 2026.