Doctoral Candidate Researcher (PhD student) for the Project “SWEET” – Social aWareness for sErvicE roboTs”

Job title:

Doctoral Candidate Researcher (PhD student) for the Project “SWEET” – Social aWareness for sErvicE roboTs”

Company:

pal robotics

Job description

Company DescriptionPAL Robotics is one of the leading international players in mobile and humanoid robot industries. As one of the SWEET partners, we are opening one research position for a PhD student on the following topic: Social Embelling: Developing compact, semantics-preserving embeddings to represent and interpret complex social environments, with a focus on characterizing social dynamics and implementing real-time social awareness on PAL robots to enhance their understanding and response in diverse social situations.Job DescriptionPAL Robotics invites applications for a Doctoral Candidate Researcher (PhD student) within the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Industrial Doctoral Network on “Social aWareness for sErvice roboTs” (SWEET) within the Horizon Europe Programme.To ensure autonomous robots can adhere to social norms and avoid human rejection, they must be socially aware—reactive, proactive, and responsive to human emotions and intentions. Supported by the MSCA, the SWEET project trains researchers to develop robots capable of perceiving and interpreting social contexts. Doctoral Candidates (DCs) will engage in cutting-edge research through an integrated curriculum combining theory and real-world applications.The consortium includes 10 beneficiaries (7 academic and 3 non-academic organizations) and 15 partner organizations, ensuring comprehensive training in scientific, technical, and personal development skills.Each DC is required to spend 50% of their total research contracted time (36 months) in a mandatory secondment visiting at other partners/beneficiaries identified by the project, in accordance with the MSCA DN-ID mobility requirements and training objectives, following a 12+6 schema where each DC will do two secondments lasting 1.5 years.More information and project details: https://www.sweet.unina.it/phd-topics/Qualifications

• MSc or equivalent in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning or closely related field with a focus on Intelligent Systems, Intelligent Robotics or Interactive Robots. Applicants who already have a doctoral degree are not eligible
• Expertise with the ROS framework
• Demonstrable evidence of experience with at least one machine learning framework (eg pytorch, keras, etc)
• Excellent programming skills (Python, C++, PyTorch)
• Excellent command of English, together with good academic writing and presentation skills.
• Fulltime employment as PhD students are offered for 3 years. The starting date of the contract is negotiable, but ideally it would be September 2025.

Desirable skills

• Experience in human-robot interaction
• Experience in social psychology and/or sociology
• Experience human factors/UX
• Experience in teamwork within interdisciplinary projects

Eligibility criteria

• European and non-European students are invited to apply
• Should ideally possess a master’s degree in a relevant academic field or a comparable degree that allows them to embark in a PhD (applications from candidates who already possess a doctoral degree cannot be considered).
• Must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Short stays such as holidays and/or compulsory national service are not taken into account.
• Must be willing to spend a prolonged time in another institute/country of the network during the PhD thesis period.

*Salary figures include all insurance costs and tax deductions according to national laws at each employing Institute. Salary is scaled based on a pre-defined Country Correction Coefficient.DOCUMENTS TO BE SENT * Application form (see Website, www.sweet.unina.it)

• Copy of the passport
• Full CV (with the list of Publications, if any)
• Short motivational video (max 3 minutes, please include only the link to a downloadable video)
• A letter including a description of previous research experience and current research interest outlining the fit to the desired PhD Topic (1 page)
• One or more reference letters and names of 2 referees, including contact details
• Transcripts of grades obtained for B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees, expected final grade (and date)
• Additional certificates (if any)

Only documents in the English language will be accepted.Application Deadline by 30 April, 2025Applications failing to include the requested documentation, which do not indicate the preferred projects or do not meet the eligibility criteria, WILL NOT be considered.Additional InformationBenefits

• A competitive salary. Successful candidates will be employed on a 36 month contract with a gross salary of approx. 3,250 euros per month*; plus 600 euros mobility allowance and (if applicable) 500 euros family allowance. Salary in line with the standard rates for MSCA regulations
• Outstanding training aimed at fostering scientific, technical, and transferable skills with the chance to join high-level training events.
• Integrated Academy / Industrial research activities.
• Scientific advice from internationally recognized experts.
• A solid mentoring strategy followed up through a personalized career development plan.
• VISA Expenses will be covered by the project.

We offerYou will be part of a dynamic and international team in a constantly growing and developing environment in a fulfilling and inclusive equal opportunity workplace. We also offer:

• A large workspace with a terrace and views of sunny Barcelona!
• Flexible working hours and shorter working hours on Fridays!
• 26 labour days of holidays per year!
• Regular corporate events and team building!
• Possibility to apply for payments in kind and the possibility of further training!
• Free coffee & tea provided!

We are an equal opportunity employer who recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We are committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Expected salary

Location

Barcelona

Job date

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 23:46:52 GMT

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