Doctoral Student in Human-in-the-Loop Autonomous Systems Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden

Chalmers University of Technology is recruiting five Doctoral students for a research opportunity in Human-in-the-Loop Autonomous Systems at the Division of Interaction Design and Software Engineering, within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in Gothenburg, Sweden. The positions are supervised by Associate Professor Rebekka Wohlrab, whose research spans human-centered software engineering and self-adaptive systems.

The projects focus on designing the next generation of autonomous systems that work more effectively with people. Research themes include better robots, autonomous networks, smart systems, and software-intensive systems that are safer, more secure, and more usable. The work is organized around two projects: Expectations, which aims to make autonomous systems aware of end-user expectations through formal methods and runtime reasoning; and Self-adaptation, which develops adaptive coordination mechanisms for teams of humans and autonomous systems using runtime models such as behavior trees and state machines.

Students in the Expectations project will model human expectations, develop runtime reasoning techniques, and evaluate them through simulations and experiments with physical robots. Students in the Self-adaptation project will design software architecture solutions, build prototypes, and run empirical evaluations, with possible directions in cybersecurity for human-machine teaming. Across both projects, the research combines theoretical foundations, methods, models, tools, and empirical evaluation in both laboratory and industrial settings, with relevant collaborators mentioned as Volvo Group and Ericsson.

The positions are partially supported by the Swedish Research Council (VR), the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF), and Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP). The post highlights WASP’s graduate school and its focus on interdisciplinary AI, autonomous systems, and software, including research visits, partner universities, and networking opportunities across academia and industry.

Eligibility is centered on a Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field, though substantially equivalent knowledge may also qualify. Applicants should have a strong academic record in software engineering, formal methods, or related areas, high-quality English communication skills, and strong motivation, independence, and analytical problem-solving ability. Experience with probability theory, reinforcement learning, Markov Decision Processes, multi-agent systems, self-adaptive systems, software architecture, or published research papers will strengthen the application depending on the project.

The positions are fully funded from the start and run for five years, with 20% teaching or other departmental duties. The starting salary is 35,725 SEK per month from May 1, 2026, increasing by 5,000 SEK per month after two years. Doctoral studies require physical presence throughout the study period and a valid residence permit by the study start date. The application deadline is 15 October 2026, and selection is ongoing so the advert may close early.

Applications must be submitted in English through the online form as PDF files, including a CV, a one-page personal letter, and bachelor’s and, if available, master’s thesis documents with transcripts. Incomplete applications and email submissions will not be considered. Questions can be directed to Rebekka Wohlrab at [email protected].