Two fully funded Ph.D. positions are available for Fall 2026 through the Joint Doctoral Program
(JDP) in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC San Diego and San Diego State
University (SDSU).

About the PI:
Dr. Jun Chen is an Associate Professor in the Aerospace Engineering Department at SDSU. His
research focuses on dynamics, control, optimization, and artificial intelligence, particularly in
data-driven modeling, decision-making under uncertainty, and AI-empowered autonomy for
large-scale networked dynamical systems. Applications include air traffic control and
management, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) traffic management, and autonomous
air/ground vehicle systems. Dr. Chen received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from
Purdue University and a B.S. in Aeronautics Engineering from Beihang University.

Research Focus Areas:
We are seeking highly motivated students to join our lab in one or more of the following areas:
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for Autonomous Systems
• Physical-AI: bridging physics-based modeling and learning-based methods
• Aerial Robotics, including UAV control, autonomy, and swarming
• Computational Optimal Control & Stochastic Optimization
• Safe and Scalable Autonomy under Uncertainty
• Distributed Control and Computing for Networked Systems

Qualifications:
Ideal candidates should have:
• Strong mathematical background (control theory, optimization, probability, etc.)
• Solid programming skills in Python, C++, Julia, or MATLAB
• Experience or coursework in one or more of the following:
• Dynamics and control
• Machine learning or reinforcement learning
• Modeling and simulation
• Robotics or UAV systems
Postdoctoral researchers and visiting students/scholars are also welcome to apply.

Application Instructions:
If interested, please email Prof. Jun Chen at jun.chen@sdsu.edu with:
• Your CV
• Transcripts (unofficial accepted)
• A brief statement of interest (optional but encouraged)
More details about Dr. Chen’s research can be found at: https://junchen.sdsu.edu

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