University of Southampton
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PhD Project in Emergent Multimodal Communication and Collaboration for Embodied Agents University of Southampton in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
The project is competition funded. No stipend amount, tuition coverage details, or other financial terms are specified in the provided text; applicants are directed to the University's fees and funding information.
Deadline
Jun 30, 2027
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Southampton
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About this position
PhD project: Learning to communicate and collaborate: emergent multimodal communication in embodied agents
The University of Southampton is offering a competition-funded Doctor of Philosophy project in embodied agents, emergent communication and collaborative robotics. The research will investigate how embodied agents learn to communicate through available modalities—including vision, sound, touch and gesture—so they can collaborate with one another and with people without relying on a pre-designed language.
The project addresses communication in real or simulated physical environments, including robot teams, human–robot teams and autonomous vehicles. Research directions may include interoperability across heterogeneous agents and sensors; selecting visual, auditory, gestural or spatial modalities; communicating plans, intentions and spatial information; adapting communication strategies to changing partners, tasks and conditions; and making emergent communication transparent and interpretable to human collaborators.
Applicants may shape the project around strengths in multi-agent reinforcement learning, robot learning, human–robot interaction or the theory of language emergence. The work connects with the University’s robotics community and interdisciplinary research in cognitive science and linguistics, with broader relevance to trustworthy collaborative AI and robotic systems.
Applicants must hold a 2:1 honours degree. The project is hosted through the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, with the School of Electronics and Computer Science involved. The closing date is 30 June 2027. Funding is described as competition funded; further fees and funding details should be checked with the University.
Funding details
The project is competition funded. No stipend amount, tuition coverage details, or other financial terms are specified in the provided text; applicants are directed to the University's fees and funding information.
What's required
Applicants require a 2:1 honours degree. The project is suitable for applicants with strengths or interests in multi-agent reinforcement learning, robot learning, human–robot interaction, or the theory of language emergence. Specific additional entry requirements are not stated in the provided text.
How to apply
Review the project and the University's full postgraduate research entry requirements and fees and funding information. Apply through the University of Southampton postgraduate research application process, selecting this project before 30 June 2027.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.