PhD in AI and Robot Learning for Production at KTH, Stockholm (XPRES)

Job Description

KTH’s School of Industrial Engineering and Management is recruiting a PhD student in intelligent robotics for production, focused on robot learning and AI-enabled automation. The research develops robotic systems that combine learning-based methods with advanced algorithms for flexible, adaptive and human-centred manufacturing, covering reinforcement learning, foundation models, world models and dexterous manipulation in real industrial settings. The student joins KTH’s new Production Systems and Automation unit and the XPRES centre.

At a glance

• Position: Doctoral student (1 post), up to four years full time
• Subject: Production engineering
• Supervisors: Xi Wang and Sichao Liu (proposed)
• Contacts: Xi Wang, wangxi@kth.se; Magnus Wiktorsson, magwik@kth.se; Sichao Liu, sicliu@kth.se
• Reference: PA-2026-2398
• Apply by: 1 October 2026
• Apply: 1 October 2026

About the robot learning PhD

• Develop intelligent robotic systems for flexible, adaptive and human-centred production
• Research reinforcement learning, foundation models and world models for robots
• Work on dexterous manipulation with applications in real industrial environments
• Collaborate with industrial partners and European universities within XPRES

What to include in your application

KTH asks for certified copies of diplomas, grades and English language certificates (with translations if needed), a CV, a letter of at most two pages on why you want to do research and how it links to your studies and goals, and representative publications or technical reports. Applications must arrive by midnight CET/CEST on the closing date.

How KTH doctoral employment works

Only applicants admitted to doctoral studies can be employed as doctoral students. The first contract is for up to one year and is then renewed for up to two years at a time, adding up to at most four years of full-time study. Up to 20% of working time may go to tasks such as teaching and administration. Applicants need English at the level of Swedish upper-secondary English B/6.

PhD applicants: browse our Find a supervisor directory to see who works in your area.

What KTH is looking for

• A master’s degree, or at least 240 credits including 60 at second-cycle level, or equivalent knowledge
• English equivalent to English B/6
• Ability to work independently and with others, and to analyse complex problems

Nice to have

• Experience in robotics, machine learning or automation

Pay and location

Doctoral students at KTH are salaried employees, paid monthly under KTH’s doctoral student salary agreement; the advert gives no figure. The post is full time in Stockholm, starting by agreement.

How to apply

Apply through the official KTH page. The closing date is 1 October 2026.

See all our PhD positions, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.