Doctoral student in Social robotics

Project description
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Third-cycle subject: Computer Science
Social robotics is a rapidly expanding field; with more advanced human-like robots proliferating within, e.g., education. It is also changing drastically with the introduction of large language models (LLM) that can be used to allow social robots to interact more naturally with humans in different application areas. However, the use of LLM also signifies that developers have less control over the robots’ interaction than when they are pre-programmed. In particular, LLMs may output incorrect or made-up information.
Developers and users alike need to handle this situation, not the least when robots are used in education, since incorrect information may harm learning. Investigating and improving learning situations in which students interact with robots that may not always provide correct information will therefore be of particular interest for the doctoral studies. Exploring the influence of factors such as the students’ background and AI experience on their trust in the robot and how multimodal robot signals (word choice, voice features and facial expressions) could indicate how certain the robot is about the information provided are other central themes.
As doctoral student you will get to perform multi-disciplinary research combining technical skills (e.g., programming of social robots, training of AI models, data analysis), human-centered design (e.g., implementation and evaluation of student-robot interaction scenarios), and education research (e.g., applying didactic frameworks). The research will be conducted in close collaboration with experts in social robotics at KTH and Uppsala University and in human-centred AI for learning, with many international contacts and national collaborations, e.g., in the Wallenberg AI Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanities and Society.
Supervision: Professor Olov Engwall, Associate professor Olga Viberg, Assistant professor Katie Winkle (Uppsala Universitet)

What we offer
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– The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.
– A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
– A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
– Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.

Admission requirements
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To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:
– passed a second cycle degree (for example a master’s degree), or
– completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
– acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge
In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection
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In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:
– independently pursue his or her work
– collaborate with others,
– have a professional approach,
– analyse and work with complex issues and
– read and write scientific texts in English
Furthermore, The candidates be be assessed on study achievements in relevant areas.
After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.
Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment
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Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ‘ time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

Union representatives
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Contact information for union representatives.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
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Contact information for doctoral section.

To apply for the position
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Apply for the position and admission through KTH’s recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.
Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).
Applications must include the following elements:
– CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
– Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages. Copies of originals must be certified.
– Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information
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Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.
For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.
It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant’s consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.
We firmly decline all contact with staffing, recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.
Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

About KTH
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KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key centre of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical research and learning institution and home to students, researchers and faculty from around the world. Our research and education covers a wide area including natural sciences and all branches of engineering, as well as architecture, industrial management, urban planning, history and philosophy. Read more here
Temporary position

Full time

According to agreement

Monthly salary according to KTH’s doctoral student salary agreement

1

100%

Stockholm

Stockholms län

Sweden

PA-2025-0393

2025-02-13

2025-03-17