What happens when the mathematics underlying an estimation algorithm breaks down? Can intelligent systems continue to operate safely when the calculations needed to understand the world become singular, fragmented, or seemingly impossible to solve?

If these questions excite you, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of safe intelligent systems with a fully funded PhD position at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) that aims to tackle one of the most fundamental challenges in estimation and control. As part of the SAFE-T project (Singularity-Aware Framework for Estimation via Topology Shaping), funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark, you will investigate how hidden information can be reliably recovered from measurements when conventional estimation algorithms fail due to mathematical singularities or disconnected parameter spaces.

The project combines ideas from control theory, topology, machine learning, and robotics to develop entirely new approaches to safe estimation. Rather than viewing singularities as unavoidable points of failure, SAFE-T seeks to understand the geometric structure they impose on the estimation problem and develop methods for safely navigating around them. By combining safety-aware control with geometric and learning-based lifting techniques, the project aims to enable reliable estimation even in situations where conventional algorithms become trapped or cease to function.

As a PhD candidate, you will contribute to both theoretical developments and experimental validation on real robotic platforms. You will join an ambitious and international research environment within the Control, Robotics and Embodied AI (CREA) group at DTU Electro and collaborate with leading researchers in control theory, machine learning, and autonomous systems. This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of control theory, topology, artificial intelligence, and robotics while contributing to a research direction that has yet to be explored.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your overall focus will be to strengthen DTU's expertise in estimation, control, and intelligent systems. The research focus will be on the development of new theoretical and algorithmic foundations for safe dynamic mapping inversion, enabling estimation algorithms to operate reliably in the presence of singularities and disconnected parameter spaces. You will become part of an inspiring research environment focusing on the development of safety-aware technologies for intelligent and autonomous systems. You will also gain international experience by engaging with academic institutions abroad.

Your primary tasks will be to:

• Develop mathematical frameworks for dynamic mapping inversion in connected and disconnected spaces
• Design estimation algorithms capable of avoiding dynamic singularities and unsafe regions
• Investigate geometric lifting methods for safe estimation in disconnected parameter spaces
• Integrate the developed methods into feedback control and diagnosis architectures
• Analyse the stability and convergence properties of the proposed algorithms
• Validate the developed methods through simulation and experiments on robotic platforms
• Lead the preparation of scientific publications towards ISI journals and highly ranked international conferences
• Share the findings of your research with qualified professional audiences
• Co-supervise BSc and MSc projects possibly within areas relevant to the PhD project
• Provide teaching assistance in BSc and MSc courses at DTU Electro

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. Furthermore, you should meet the following qualifications:

• You have sound analytical skills and a strong background in control theory, dynamical systems and applied mathematics
• You have documented experience through courses, projects or former professional work in mathematical modelling and estimation for nonlinear systems
• Knowledge and/or experience within optimisation and machine learning is an advantage
• You have programming experience in MATLAB, Python, C++, or similar scientific computing environments
• You have an interest in combining rigorous mathematical analysis with practical implementation and experimentation
• You have excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken
• Your curiosity and passion drive you to uncover the unknown. Your energy enables you to collaborate effectively with peers and pursue independent work towards shared objectives. As a results-driven individual, you can go above and beyond to meet crucial deadlines.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Associate Professor Dimitrios Papageorgiou and Associate Professor Silvia Tolu.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is 3 years. The starting date is 1 October 2026 or thereafter. The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Dimitrios Papageorgiou, Associate Professor at Control, Robotics and Embodied AI group at DTU Electro by sending an email to [email protected].

You can read more about DTU Electro at www.electro.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 17 July 2026 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• List of publications (if any)

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU Electro
DTU Electro employs more than 300 skilled researchers with competencies in electrical and photonics engineering. As a department, we strive towards creating sustainable energy and a greener internet, as well as strengthening cyber security and health technology. Working with industry and public organizations is one of our top priorities to find and implement new solutions to our society. We aim to offer education, research, and innovation of the highest standard, and our focus on application-oriented research enables us to work across many engineering disciplines and research areas, such as IT and the medical and health sciences. We have a close collaboration with researchers from all over the world, just as we collaborate with industry and public authorities about the dissemination of solutions based on electrical and photonics engineering as their key enabling technologies.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.

Location
Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

Apply Before
2026-07-17T21:59:00+00:00