Funded PhD in Gestural Entrainment and Human-Robot Interaction at TU Dublin Technological University Dublin in Ireland

Technological University Dublin is recruiting a fully funded PhD for Autumn 2026 in Gestural Entrainment: The Social Impact of Temporal and Magnitude Alignment in Human-Robot Interaction.

The project sits at the intersection of Computer Science, Robotics, Psychology, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence. The research will examine how a robot’s subtle alignment with a human partner’s gestural tempo and magnitude affects rapport, empathy, social presence, and the “Uncanny Valley.” Methods may include humanoid robots, motion tracking, interactional synchrony, self-report measures, and physiological markers of engagement.

The PhD is hosted at Technological University Dublin and is part of a broader cohort-based PhD training programme. Students will receive training in machine learning, statistics, data management, programming, qualitative and digital policy methods, as well as communication, ethics, entrepreneurship, and other transferable skills. There are also opportunities for industry/public-service engagement, placements, and research visits.

Funding: €25,000 per year for four years (tax free), plus additional support for conference attendance and training. EU fees are covered automatically; non-EU students receive a fee waiver.

Eligibility and application: Applicants should be interested in human-robot interaction, social robotics, and data-driven experimental research. Interested candidates should email Robert Ross with a CV and then submit the formal application before 2026-06-14, mentioning that they have already spoken with him and that TU Dublin is the target institution. Interviews are provisionally scheduled for June, with decisions soon after.