The Robot Learning research group is seeking a talented PhD student with strong interest in Reinforcement Learning and Mobile Manipulation.

The Aalto Robot Learning research group operates in the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics. We focus on developing methods for reinforcement learning, robotic manipulation, decision making under partial observability, imitation learning, and decision making in multi-agent systems. The goal of the research group is to help robots understand what they need to learn to perform their assigned tasks, and, thus, make robots capable of operating on their own and pro-actively help humans. To accomplish these goals the research group develops novel decision-making methods and uses these methods to solve unsolved robotic tasks. For more information, please see https://rl.aalto.fi .
The main task of the PhD student will be to develop new reinforcement learning and planning methods. The developed methods may be based on one of our focus areas improving efficiency and generalization in control of complex systems. A goal is to develop methods that can be used for robotic mobile manipulation in unstructured partly unknown environments and in environments with elastic or deformable objects. The developed methods are evaluated with real robots such as our Boston Dynamics Spot robot. The exact direction of the research is chosen depending on your experience and interests. Please relate clearly to the research topics in your Letter of Motivation.

Candidates from the areas of Machine Learning, AI, Robotics, and related areas including Reinforcement Learning, Control Engineering, Computer Vision, Statistics & Optimization, or Mathematics & Physics are welcome to apply. The candidate is expected to contribute to the topics listed above. Successful candidates will be furthermore given the opportunity to work with undergraduate and M.Sc. students.

The research group collaborates internationally and nationally with research groups in construction, computer vision, robotics, mobile heavy machines, human-robot interaction, reinforcement learning, imitation learning, multi-agent systems, under-water vehicles, and robot motion planning. There will be ample opportunities for international collaboration.

The selected candidate will need to apply for the study right in doctoral studies at Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering. Thus, please check the student information and admission criteria from our website. In particular, please pay attention to the required (English) language proficiency.

WE OFFER
The position will be filled for 2 + 2 years (doctoral studies are expected to take 4 years in total). The starting date is in December 2024 or as mutually agreed. The salary will be based on both the job requirements and the employee’s personal performance in accordance with the salary system of Finnish universities. The starting salary for a doctoral researcher is approximately 3000 EUR/month and increases with thesis progress.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts. The position is located at the Aalto University Otaniemi campus which can be easily reached by public transport.

HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your application through our online recruitment system by using the “Apply now!” link below. The closing date for applications is November 10, 2024.

Please write your application and all the accompanying documentation in English and attach them in PDF format. Please attach only the following documents to your application:

• A letter of motivation describing your research interests and how the research fits to the Robot Learning research group (max. 1 page)
• Curriculum vitae (including the contact details of two referees)
• A list of publications as a part of the curriculum vitae
• PDF copy of your MSc and BSc degree certificates, including transcripts of all MSc and BSc university records (grades and courses) and their English translations (Finnish and Swedish certificates are also accepted)
   

Please note that our recruitment system allows max 5 attachments, so please combine the copies of certificates and transcripts in one PDF, if necessary.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For further information, please contact Associate Professor Joni Pajarinen, joni.pajarinen@aalto.fi. Additional information in recruitment process related questions, please contact HR partner Camilla Hanganpää, camilla.hanganpaa@aalto.fi.

ABOUT AALTO UNIVERSITY, HELSINKI, AND FINLAND
Aalto University (aalto.fi) is located in Finland. Finland is among the best countries in the world according to many quality of life indicators, including being the happiest country in the world. In addition to a computing cluster at Aalto University and computing clusters in Finland, Finland has Europe's fastest supercomputer LUMI, to which the research group has access. Aalto University is the foremost university in Finland in Engineering, Design and Business. Less than a 15 minutes metro ride away from center of Helsinki, capital of Finland, Aalto offers access to rich cultural and social life to help maintain healthy work-life balance.

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

More about Aalto University:
Aalto.fi
youtube.com/user/aaltouniversity
linkedin.com/school/aalto-university/
www.facebook.com/aaltouniversity
instagram.com/aaltouniversity
twitter.com/aaltouniversity