PhD in Cognitive Science or Design on Societal Use of Drone Swarms at Linköping University Linköping University in Sweden

Linköping University is advertising a PhD position in cognitive science or design focused on the societal use of autonomous drone swarms within the CHASS project (Centre for Human-AI Swarm Systems).

The project sits at the intersection of AI, autonomous systems, human-centered design, sociotechnical systems, stakeholder analysis, and qualitative research. The doctoral work will examine how drone swarms interact with society in critical societal functions, including how public safety organizations and other actors understand, evaluate, and engage with swarm-based services.

Research tasks include mapping relevant actors and stakeholders, applying and extending actor-network theory/analysis, and conducting empirical studies such as interviews, workshops, user studies, and qualitative fieldwork. The project also explores concepts such as trust, utility, risk, and responsibility in relation to swarm technologies in air, water, and on land, and contributes to conceptual models for value-based control of swarms.

The PhD student will be affiliated with the Human-Centered Systems (HCS) environment at Linköping University and will also complete a research exchange (secondment) at Lund University, collaborating with the AI and Society research group at LTH. The position is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, with close collaboration with engineering-oriented researchers and other project partners.

Eligibility highlights: a Master’s degree in cognitive science, design, or a closely related field; or equivalent coursework/knowledge. Documented experience with relevant research methods is required. Excellent English is required, and Swedish or another Scandinavian language is a merit.

Funding and employment: this is a salaried doctoral employment at Linköping University, normally four years full-time, with possible extension up to five years depending on teaching and departmental duties. Salary follows local PhD salary progression.

Deadline: 2026-08-07. The position starts by agreement, preferably no later than 2026-10-01.

How to apply: submit the application via Linköping University’s online portal and include the required two-page position statement describing your research interests, background, contribution to the project, and whether cognitive science or design is the most relevant orientation.