PhD Student Position
Chalmers Tekniska Högskola AB / Högskolejobb / Göteborg
2025-05-26
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This PhD position offers a unique opportunity to advance safe and transparent control for autonomous, over-actuated electric vehicles. You will work at the intersection of model predictive control and machine learning to tackle the complexity of force allocation and motion planning under uncertainty and actuator failures. The project combines theoretical research in stochastic optimal control with real-world applications, in collaboration with Volvo Cars and Volvo Group. This is an ideal position for candidates interested in interpretable AI, safety guarantees, and high-impact research in safe and sustainable mobility.
Research environment
The position is located at the Systems and Control division, with extensive collaboration with the Vehicle Safety Division and the Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems division.
We offer advanced PhD courses where we extend the fundamentals in optimal control, machine learning, probability theory and similar. The research and learning environment is international and English is the working language. If Swedish is not your native language and you are interested in learning it, Chalmers offers Swedish courses that are free for PhD students. Although the knowledge of Swedish is not mandatory for teaching and research, many PhD students decide to follow these courses.
Responsibilities
As a PhD student, your primary responsibility is to conduct high-quality research on interpretable and learning-based stochastic optimal control for over-actuated electric vehicles, with a focus on ensuring robustness and fail-safe operation. You will:
• Develop modular, scalable, and transparent control algorithms suitable for real-time implementation across different vehicle platforms.
• Contribute to theoretical developments in stochastic model predictive control and its integration with learning-based motion prediction under uncertainty.
• Validate methods through simulation and collaboration with industrial partners (Volvo Cars and Volvo Group).
• Publish results in leading journals and present at international conferences.
Qualifications
To be eligible for this position, you must have (or be close to completing) a Master's degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. A strong mathematical foundation and excellent academic performance are expected.
Required qualifications:
• Proficiency in programming (primarily Python or MATLAB)
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work across research groups and disciplines
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Experience with optimal control theory and methods
Contract terms
The position is regarded as a full-time employment with a competitive monthly salary and full social benefits. It is limited to maximum 5 years and includes teaching at the undergraduate and MSc level, up to 20% of full time. There are no tuition fees for PhD studies at Chalmers.
The expected starting date is September 2025. While a slightly later start may be possible, we prefer the position to commence before November 2025.
What we offer
• The PhD position is fully funded from start
• As a PhD student at Chalmers, you are an employee and enjoy all employee benefits. Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.
• A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg.
• A starting salary of 34,550 SEK per month (valid from May 25, 2025).
Chalmers is dedicated to improving gender balance and actively works with equality projects, such as the GENIE Initiative for gender equality and excellence.
Discover more
Find more general information about doctoral studies at Chalmers here.
How to apply
The application should be written in English and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.
CV: (Please name the document: CV, Family name)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus
Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master's thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates.
Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.
Please note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered.
Application deadline: 9 July, 2025
For questions, please contact:
Prof. Nikolce Murgovski, Systems and Control
nikolce.murgovski@chalmers.se,
• 46-31-772-4800
Senior Researcher, Mats Jonasson, Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems
mats.jonasson@chalmers.se• 46-31-772-1373
Researcher Jordanka Kovaceva, Vehicle Safety
jordanka.kovaceva@chalmers.se +46-31-772-1266
• ** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***
Ersättning enligt kollektivavtal
Så ansöker du Sista dag att ansöka är 2025-07-09
Klicka på denna länk för att göra din ansökan Omfattning Detta är ett heltidsjobb.
Arbetsgivare Chalmers Tekniska Högskola AB (org.nr 556479-5598)
Jobbnummer 9360017