Liangkai Liu

Liangkai Liu is recruiting 2–3 PhD students to join his new group at Texas Tech University starting in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 . The group works at the intersection of foundation models , robotics , computer science , cyber-physical systems , and physics-aware intelligence , with a focus on building AI-enabled autonomous systems that are safe, efficient, and predictable in the real world. Research topics include autonomous driving , robotics , real-time and edge AI , multimodal perception , and vision-language action systems . The longer opening page also highlights work on perception, reasoning, and decision-making for AI-enabled autonomy, as well as computing systems for robotics and physics-aware, safety-conscious autonomy for mission-critical applications. This is a fully funded PhD opportunity with a competitive stipend and tuition waiver . The group also mentions support for equipment and computing, hands-on work with real autonomous systems, and access to an NSF-supported research program . Preferred backgrounds include CS/EE , robotics , machine learning , computer vision , and embedded systems . Programming experience in Python , ROS , and C++ is specifically mentioned. Applicants are encouraged to read the research statement before reaching out. To apply, candidates can submit the Google Form or email a CV, transcripts, and research statement to the contact email provided. The post indicates openings for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 .