Doctoral Student In Human-Robot Interaction

Have you ever tried to "make eye contact" with a faceless robot to figure out what it's about to do? Join us for an exciting research project at the forefront of robotics innovation, to figure out a better way for robots to communicate with people!

About us

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering, a joint department of Chalmers and the University of Gothenburg, spans the breadth of computing disciplines. Our internationally visible research, strong industry links and diverse environment create a collaborative setting where ideas grow into real impact.

At the division of Interaction Design and Software Engineering, we design smarter ways to engineer better software, and explore how people engage with digital systems, combining global research perspectives with strong collaboration with industry.

Within the division, you will join a growing group of researchers working in Human-Robot Interaction, focusing on trustworthy and critical robotics, with access to well-equipped labs and a diverse range of robots.

About the research project

Robots are entering human spaces, but they are still struggling to communicate effectively with us. Whether assisting older adults, delivering goods, supporting education, or navigating busy public environments, robots must make their intentions understandable to the people around them. If a robot cannot clearly signal what it is about to do, coordination breaks down. Trust weakens. Acceptance declines. In safety-critical contexts, misunderstandings can have serious consequences.

This PhD project addresses this challenge. You will develop a novel, universal framework for robot communication that is both platform-independent and context-adaptive. Instead of designing communication strategies for one robot at a time, the goal is to establish principled foundations for how robots can communicate, regardless of which robot, which context, which environment. This interdisciplinary project combines theory-driven research with empirical investigation. It will involve data collection in real-world settings as well as controlled user studies, alongside the development of new theoretical models of human-robot communication. The PhD candidate will be supervised by experts in Linguistics and Human-Robot Interaction and will collaborate closely with a postdoctoral researcher responsible for the technical implementation of the framework on robotic platforms.

We are looking for a motivated and curious PhD candidate, ideally with a background in linguistics and an interest in robotic applications, who is eager to work at the intersection of social science and robotics, and contribute to shaping the future of how humans and robots understand each other.

Who we are looking for

The following requirements are mandatory:

• To qualify as a Doctoral student, you must have a Master's degree (masterexamen) of 120 credits or a Master’s degree (magisterexamen) of 60 credits* in Linguistics, Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Computer Science, Robotics, Cognitive Science, or related fields.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Interest in human communication or human-technology interaction (demonstrated e.g. through coursework or thesis work)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to communicate progress / issues clearly
• We are looking for someone curious, critical, and with a strong motivation to work at the intersection of technology and society.

• for students with an education earned outside of Sweden, a 4-year Bachelor’s degree is accepted.

The following experience will strengthen your application:

• Experience in qualitative data analysis, conducting user studies, and/or programming is an advantage.
• Experience working in interdisciplinary environments.
• Background in linguistics (e.g., pragmatics, semantics, conversation analysis)
• Experience conducting research "in the wild" (e.g., field deployments or data collection in real-world environments)
• Familiarity with current AI technologies (e.g., machine learning, large language models) and an interest in their application to embodied systems.

What you will do

• Take courses at an advanced level within the Graduate school of Computer Science and Engineering
• Develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing
• The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 percent of working hours
• Participate and contribute to regular group meetings
• You will have the chance to supervise thesis work, and collaborate with other PhD students and postdocs.
  

Contract terms

• The Doctoral student positions are fully funded from start.
• The position is a fixed-term appointment of four years, with the possibility to teach up to 20%, which extends the position up to five years.
• A starting salary of 34,550 SEK per month (valid from May 25, 2025).
• Doctoral studies require physical presence throughout the entire study period. A valid residence permit must be presented by the study start date; otherwise the admission may be withdrawn.
• Earliest starting date is 1st June 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

What we offer

• As a Doctoral 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.
• Read more about Sweden’s generous parental leave, subsidized day care, free schools, healthcare etc at Move To Gothenburg.

Chalmers is dedicated to improving gender balance and actively works with equality projects, such as the GENIE Initiative for gender equality and excellence. We celebrate diversity and consider equality and inclusion as fundamental aspects of all our activities.

If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses to help you settle in.

Find more general information about doctoral studies at Chalmers here.

Application procedure

The application should be written in English and 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

Personal letter

• A brief introduction about yourself.
• A brief motivation as to why you are interested in this position.

Bachelor’s and, if available, master’s thesis together with the transcripts.

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. Contact details to references will be requested after the interview.

We welcome your application no later than 17th April 2026.

For questions, please contact:

Ilaria Torre
Assistant Professor
ilariat@chalmers.se

We look forward to your application!

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***

Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students, and offers education in engineering, science, shipping and architecture. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit, in close collaboration with wider society.
Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then: Avancez – forward.

Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society.

The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our eight Areas of Advance; Built Environment, Energy, Information & Communication Technology, Life Science, Materials Science, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!