[visionlist] [jobs]Two Fully Funded PhD Positions in Embodied AI, Physical AI & World Models — RoboTac Lab, BMW Group & TU/e

[Kaboli, Mohsen]

Dear Colleagues,

We invite applications for two fully funded PhD positions in Physical AI, Embodied Intelligence, Robotics, and World Models at the RoboTac Lab, BMW Group Center of AI, Munich, Germany & TU/e Eindhoven.

The PhD candidates will conduct their research at BMW Group in Munich and will be enrolled at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), the Netherlands.

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PhD Topics

Topic 1 — World Models & Visuo-Tactile Foundation Models for Embodied Robotics & Physical AI

Topic 2 — Physical AI for Intelligent Production & Value Chains


Research Areas

Depending on the position, research topics include:

  *   World Models for Embodied AI
  *   Visuo-Tactile Foundation Models
  *   Multimodal Perception and Learning
  *   Robot Learning and Active Learning
  *   Dexterous Grasping and Manipulation
  *   Physical AI and Embodied Intelligence
  *   Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics
  *   AI-Based Decision Models
  *   World Models for Production Systems
  *   Flexible Automation and Intelligent Value Chains

Eligibility

  *   Master's degree in electrical engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Systems and Control, Robotics, or a closely related field, with an excellent academic record.
  *   Strong background in machine learning, deep learning, robot learning, optimization, and/or applied mathematics.
  *   Excellent programming skills in Python and strong practical software-development experience; proficiency in C/C++ is highly desirable.
  *   Hands-on experience in developing and training deep learning models, preferably using PyTorch.
  *   Experience in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable: multimodal learning, world models, reinforcement learning, imitation learning, foundation models, robot perception, grasping, or manipulation.
  *   Experience with robotics and machine-learning simulation environments such as NVIDIA Isaac Sim / Isaac Lab, MuJoCo, or Gymnasium is an advantage.
  *   A strong research track record is highly desirable. Publications at leading international conferences or journals in AI and robotics, such as ICRA, IROS, CoRL, NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR, IEEE T-RO, IEEE RA-L, Autonomous Robots, or Science Robotics, are a significant advantage.
  *   Strong interest in Physical AI, Embodied AI, robotics, and intelligent autonomous systems.
  *   Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a structured, creative, and research-oriented working style.
  *   Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment.
  *   Excellent written and spoken English. German language skills are an advantage but not required.

What Awaits You?

  *   A competitive salary and attractive BMW Group benefits.
  *   Participation in the BMW Group PhD Program, with access to a large interdisciplinary community of doctoral researchers as well as dedicated training and professional-development opportunities.
  *   Opportunities to publish high-impact research and present your work at leading international conferences in AI, machine learning, and robotics, including ICRA, IROS, CoRL, CVPR, ICML, and NeurIPS.
  *   Close collaboration with a highly specialized international team of AI, machine-learning, and robotics researchers and engineers.
  *   The opportunity to work at the intersection of cutting-edge academic research and real-world industrial applications at BMW Group.
  *   Research conducted within the RoboTac Lab at the BMW Group Center of AI in Munich, in close collaboration with Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).
  *   Access to a state-of-the-art research environment with advanced robotic systems, tactile and multimodal sensors, intelligent vehicles, high-performance computing infrastructure, and modern simulation and software platforms.
  *   The opportunity to contribute to challenging research in Physical AI, Embodied Intelligence, robot learning, world models, multimodal perception, and intelligent robotic systems.

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents:

  *   CV
  *   One-page cover letter, including your motivation, relevant qualifications and experience, and earliest possible starting date
  *   BSc and MSc certificates and transcripts
  *   Contact details of up to three referees
  *   List of publications, if applicable

       Please send your complete application as one pdf file to: robotac at bmw.de<mailto:robotac at bmw.de>.    (Please write the title of PhD in your email subject)

     Application deadline: 15 October 2026

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a research presentation followed by an interview. Expected starting date: As soon as possible / upon mutual agreement

More information about RoboTac Lab:   www.robotac.eu<http://www.robotac.eu/>

________________________________

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mohsen Kaboli

PI & Lead, AI & Robotics Lab / RoboTac Team
BMW Group, Munich, Germany

PI & Head, Embodied AI, Interactive Robotic Perception and Learning — RoboTac
Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), The Netherlands

E-mail: mohsen.kaboli at bmwgroup.com<mailto:mohsen.kaboli at bmwgroup.com>
E-mail: m.kaboli at tue.nl<mailto:m.kaboli at tue.nl>

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