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We are looking for two PhD students for the new national Center for Heterogeneous Adaptive Swarm Systems (CHASS), with focus on research within the following areas:

1. Trustworthy Swarm Coordination and Self-Governance
2. Safe Runtime Adaptation and Self-Improving Swarm Autonomy

Your work assignments

The multi-disciplinary center for heterogeneous adaptive swarm systems, CHASS, is a national effort funded by the Swedish Strategic Research Foundation (SSF) to bring together leading researchers in AI, autonomous systems, robotics, and swarm intelligence to develop novel solutions for autonomous heterogeneous swarm systems for the benefit of Swedish industry and society. The vision is to make Sweden a leader in intelligent, adaptive, and trustworthy swarm systems by pioneering autonomous heterogeneous collectives of space, aerial, ground, surface, and underwater platforms that can operate as a unified intelligent entity with minimal human intervention. The research program focuses on six key themes: Drone Design, Adaptation, & Production; Perception, Sensing, & Communication; Autonomy, Localization, Mapping & Navigation; Coordination, Self-Governance, & Self-Improvement; Human Swarm Interaction; and Swarm-based Services & Socio-Technical Aspects.

The PhD positions in this announcement focus on research related to coordination, self-governance, and continuous improvement of autonomous swarm systems. Research will address coordination, distributed monitoring, and self-governance, alongside safe runtime adaptation, verified self-improvement, and digital twin-based continuous learning for trustworthy ad-hoc heterogeneous swarm systems. Collaboration across the two research areas is strongly encouraged.

CHASS will drive world-class research in autonomous swarm systems through a strong, stimulating, and well-connected international research environment. Research outcomes will be validated in real-world scenarios with industry and public-sector partners. CHASS will also serve as a national hub for autonomous swarm systems, promoting education, knowledge sharing, innovation, and policy development.

As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20 per cent of full-time.

Your qualifications

We are looking for enthusiastic people to join our interdisciplinary research group. You should enjoy working as part of a team and be willing to learn from your co-workers and to share your knowledge and experience with them in return.

Scientific curiosity and the ability to think independently are essential personal qualities in a candidate. You will be expected to engage with colleagues and cooperate in supporting the activities of the research group. You must also have excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Oral and written communication skills in Swedish is a merit.

You have graduated at Master’s level in computer science or completed courses with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be advanced courses in computer science, mathematics, AI, machine learning or similar. The applicant is expected to have good knowledge of computer science, mathematics, algorithms, and programming. Knowledge and experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning is expected, but not required. Knowledge and experience in deep learning and generative AI is considered an advantage. Undergraduate research experience is a merit, but not a requirement.

Your workplace

You will be employed at the Division of Artificial Intelligence and Integrated Computer Systems (AIICS) at the Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA) at Linköping University.

Linköping University is an AI research excellence center with strong and broad research and education in AI both from a technical and interdisciplinary perspective. Coordinator of TrustLLM a large EU project developing trustworthy and factual language models. Host of the largest basic research program in Sweden Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) as well as the Wallenberg AI and Transformative Technologies Education Development Program (WASP-ED). Host of the National Academic Infrastructure for Supercomputing in Sweden (NAISS) including a EuroHPC (Arrhenius) and an AI Factory (Mimer).

Drone and swarm research at LiU focuses on autonomous systems that can safely operate and collaborate in complex environments. The area covers research on safety for critical infrastructure and people in the vicinity of autonomous systems, as well as control engineering, perception, AI, transparency, and human-system interaction. Through numerous national and European projects, methods are developed for autonomous platforms and heterogeneous drone swarms that can adapt to changing operational conditions. The research is conducted in close collaboration with Swedish and international universities, research institutes, and industry partners, and includes both simulation-based development and validation in real-world test environments.

More about drone and swarm research at LiU: https://liu.se/en/research/drone-and-swarm-research.

The employment

When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for doctoral studies. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University.

The employment has a duration of normally four years’ full-time equivalent. Extension of employment up to five years is based on the degree of teaching and institutional assignment. Further extensions may be granted in exceptional circumstances. You will initially be employed for one year, after which your employment will be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time, depending on your progress through the study plan. 

Starting date by agreement, preferably not later than September 1, 2026.

Background screening may come to be carried out before any decision on employment is made.

Salary and employment benefits

The salary of PhD students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than June 14, 2026.

Motivate in your personal letter why you are interested in the position and why you are especially qualified for it.

Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.