The School of Computer Science and Communication, Department of Speech, Music and Hearing at KTH – Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm is looking for up to four PhD students in the area of Social Robotics.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The field of social robotics was recently presented as a targeted field of innovation in a VINNOVA Innovation agenda (http://www.speech.kth.se/socialrobotics/ ). The PhD positions are supported by a number of externally funded research projects that start in 2016. Within the greater scope of social robotics, TMH is hiring up to 4 PhD students in four connected but distinct areas.*

• DATA-DRIVEN METHODS FOR DIALOGUE SYSTEMS.
  The area concerns the exploration of data-driven methods for developing dialogue systems for social robots. We explore how data from human-human interaction can be used to model human-robot interaction and how robots can learn and adapt through their interaction with humans.
• COLLABORATIVE ROBOTS IN FUTURE FACTORIES.
  The goal is to develop a third-hand helper robot that collaborates with humans in performing object manipulation tasks (pick and place, put together, insert). This includes studying how verbal and non-verbal information is best used for efficient and user friendly interaction and collaborative work in future factories. This research takes place with participants from CVAP, the department for computer vision and robotics.
• HUMAN BEHAVIOURS IN FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION.
  We capture and analyse how humans behave when they engage in face-to-face conversation. The practical work involves using existing methods as well as designing and testing novel methods for the capture and analysis of speech together with a number of other behaviours, including breathing and gaze. The resulting objective observations are used both to validate existing theories and to connect theory to implementation in social robotics.
• DATA-DRIVEN MODELLING OF INTERACTION SKILLS.
  The area targets fundamental interaction behaviours to significantly enhance the social interaction skills of robots. The work involves data collection using state-of-the art motion and gaze tracking systems on a large scale, as well as data-driven modelling and different experimentation and evaluation techniques. The goal is to devise control models for fluent, adaptive and context-sensitive non-verbal behaviours in robots interacting with humans.

QUALIFICATIONS

To be admitted to the announced positions in the PhD education in Speech Communication and Technology, you must have a master’s degree (or an equivalent 4-year university degree). The area is multidisciplinary and candidates from a variety of backgrounds outside of pure speech technology will be considered, including sensor technology and hardware; systems and programming; statistics and modelling; linguistics, cognitive and behavioural science. The applicant should have an excellent command of spoken and written English. Applicants must be strongly motivated for doctoral studies, possess the ability to work independently and perform critical analysis and also possess good levels of cooperative and communicative abilities.

Furthermore, experience with any of the following is seen as an additional merit: spoken dialogue systems, signal processing, speech technology, computer vision, machine learning, robotics, teaching, user studies and experimental design.

EMPLOYMENT

This is a four-year time-limited position that can be extended up to a year with the inclusion of a maximum of 20% departmental duties, usually teaching. In order to be employed, you must apply and be accepted as a doctoral student at KTH. The starting date is open for discussion, though ideally we would like the successful candidate to start as soon as possible.

TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVES

You will find contact information to trade union representatives at KTH’s web page.

APPLICATION

Application shall include the following documents:

1. Curriculum vitae.
2. Transcripts from University/ University College.
3. Document that describes and confirms the applicant’s practical experience of work in related areas.
4. Brief description of which of the areas that fits best and why.
5. Brief description of why the applicant wishes to become a doctoral student.

Please observe that all material needs to be in English, apart from the official document.

Log in to KTH’s recruitment system in order to apply to this position. You are the main responsible to ensure that your application is complete according to the ad. Your complete application must be received at KTH no later than the last day of application, midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE PROJECT PLEASE CONTACT:
Professor Joakim Gustafson, Dept manager, jocke@speech.kth.se , +46 8790 8965
Professor Jonas Beskow, beskow@speech.kth.se, +46 8790 8965
Assistant Professor Jens Edlund, edlund@speech.kth.se, +46 8790 7874
Assistant Professor Gabriel Skantze, gabriel@speech.kth.se, +46 8790 7854

FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS:
Maria Widlund, HR Manager, mwidlund@kth.se, +46 8790 9754.

FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT PHD STUDIES:
Peter Ahlström, PhD representative, dr-ordf@csc.kth.se.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE:
https://www.kth.se/en/om/work-at-kth/lediga-jobb/what:job/jobID:91423/where:4/