Örebro University invites applications for a fully funded PhD position in Computer Science, focusing on the development of efficient, neuro-inspired methods for machine learning. The successful candidate will join the Machine Perception and Interaction Lab, a multidisciplinary research group at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, and human-robot interaction. The project aims to address the computational challenges of modern machine learning by drawing inspiration from biological neural systems, which excel at complex tasks under strict energy constraints. By integrating principles such as structural organization, recurrence, and randomness, the research seeks to create lightweight machine learning models that maintain high performance while dramatically reducing computational requirements.

The doctoral project will explore how structured prior knowledge, memory of past inputs, and randomized representations can be combined to build models suitable for resource-constrained devices. Applications include long-term forecasting of dynamical systems and processing biomedical signals from wearable devices. The research will contribute both theoretical insights and practical advances, with the goal of developing a new framework for efficient machine learning that remains competitive with state-of-the-art approaches.

The PhD programme consists of coursework and an independent research project culminating in a doctoral thesis. It spans four years of full-time study (240 ECTS credits) and includes a tailored seminar series, introduction to doctoral programme rules, and opportunities for networking and career support. The position is linked to a full-time doctoral studentship, guaranteeing employment for the duration of the programme (subject to satisfactory progress), with an initial monthly salary of SEK 32,300.

Entry requirements include a second-cycle qualification (Master's degree or equivalent), with at least 240 ECTS credits, including 60 at the second-cycle level. Specific requirements are a Master of Science in Engineering or a one-year Master's degree in computer science or related subjects, or equivalent international qualifications. Candidates should demonstrate strong problem-solving, critical analysis, and communication skills. Fluency in spoken and written English is essential; knowledge of Swedish is not required. Merits include coursework, thesis, or publications in digital signal processing, electrical engineering, computer vision, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, or robotics.

Örebro University values diversity, equal opportunities, and a collaborative work environment. The application is made online and must include a description of research interests, CV, proof of meeting entry requirements, independent project, and other relevant documents. Documents should be in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English; translations are required for other languages. The application deadline is 16 January 2026.

For further information, contact Dr. Denis Kleyko ([email protected]), Prof. Amy Loutfi ([email protected]), or Prof. Martin Magnusson ([email protected]). More details and the application portal are available on the university’s career page.