Doctoral student in Social Robotics - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Computer Science

The scientific work will be conducted in the scope of one of the following projects:

- Interactive semi-situated robot learning: this project addresses the challenge of how to enable robots to learn in a scalable and cost-efficient manner by gradually acquiring new knowledge from a non-expert, semi-situated teachers. To achieve this, computational methods will be developed for robots to query the semi-situated teachers (e.g. crowd workers) and incorporate the newly acquired knowledge into their existing decision-making to further use in situ. This project is funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research.

- Safe human-robot collaboration: this project aims to explore the relationship between safety and perceived safety in human-robot collaboration. Safe systems may not be necessarily be perceived as safe, whereas unsafe systems might be perceived as safe, depending on their type, form, and structure of the feedback provided to the user. Understanding these tradeoffs is vital to good robot design and acceptance. This project is part of a recently established competence center on Trustworthy Edge Computing Systems and Applications (TECoSA) focusing on research paving the way for novel edge computing systems and applications, emphasizing challenges related to safety, security, and predictability.

The starting date for the positions will be in agreement with the supervisor, but preferably during fall 2020. 

Supervision: The doctoral student will be supervised by Assistant Prof. Iolanda Leite, who leads the Social Robotics Group at the Division of Robotics, Perception, and Learning (RPL).

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world. Read more
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• Postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality, and diversity as well as a study environment.
• Work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and the water.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.

Eligibility

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a degree at an advanced level,
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at an advanced level, or
• in any other way acquired within or outside the country acquired essentially equivalent knowledge.
• Requirements for English equivalent to English B/6, read more here.

The candidate must have a degree in Computer Science or related fields. Documented written and spoken English and programming skills are required. Experience with robotics, human-robot interaction, human-computer interaction, and machine learning are important.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH, you need to be goal-oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach, and
• analyze and work with complex issues.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities and personal suitability.

Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Union representatives

You will find contact information for union representatives on KTH's website.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

You will find contact information for the doctoral section on the section's website.

Application

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are, and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information

Gender equality, diversity, and zero tolerance against discrimination and harassment are important aspects of KTH's work with quality as well as core values in our organization.

For information about the processing of personal data in the recruitment process please read here.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of a discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.