Doctoral student in generative AI for humanoid assistive robots

KTH Royal Institute of Technology invites applications for a doctoral student position in generative AI for humanoid assistive robots. The position is based at the Department of Speech, Music and Hearing (TMH) within the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), a leading research environment in speech and language technology with a focus on multimodal interaction with social robots. The doctoral student will contribute to the Promobilia-funded SAInt: Situated Agentic Interaction project, which aims to develop and evaluate humanoid assistive robots capable of contextual understanding, learning through interaction, and providing proactive support to reduce the care gap for older adults and people with special needs. The research will focus on advancing dialogue architectures for humanoid robots, enabling them to move beyond reactive systems and understand user goals, actions, ongoing activities, and cognitive states. The project emphasizes natural multimodal communication and proactive collaboration as an integrated part of everyday activities. The doctoral student will work closely with researchers from the Department of Robotics, Perception and Learning, and will be supervised by Professor Joakim Gustafson. Applicants should have a strong background in computer science, language technology, human-machine interaction, or cognitive science, with demonstrated skills in programming and machine learning. A good command of English (writing and speaking) is required, and applicants should be highly motivated, goal-oriented, and able to work both independently and collaboratively. The position is full-time, with a monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement, and includes employee benefits. Employment is for up to four years, with possible renewal. To apply, submit your application through KTH's recruitment system by April 20, 2026. Applications must include certified copies of diplomas and grades, proof of English proficiency, a CV, an application letter outlining your research interests and goals, and representative publications or technical reports. For further information, contact Professor Joakim Gustafson at [email protected]. Join KTH and contribute to cutting-edge research in generative AI, robotics, and human–robot interaction in a creative and dynamic environment committed to equality, diversity, and sustainability.