Fully Funded PhD Scholarship — Machine Intelligence towards Collaborative Factory Automation
The Industrial AI Research Group at the University of Auckland is offering a fully funded PhD scholarship focused on developing intelligent automation systems for modern factories.
Research Focus
The project aims to create automation systems that can learn, adapt, and collaborate with other machines in modern factories. Key research areas include:
- Generalised and embodied intelligence for industrial machines
- Machine learning and adaptive control for collaborative automation
- Situational awareness in manufacturing
- System integration with real-world automation systems
Supervisors
The research will be directed by Dr. Yuqian Lu and Professor Andrea Raith.
Candidate Requirements
Applicants should have:
- A Master's degree or First-Class Honours in Robotics, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
- Strong programming skills (Python, ROS, control systems, machine learning frameworks)
- High motivation for intelligent automation research
- Excellent interpersonal abilities to collaborate with industry partners
Funding and Timeline
Coverage: Tuition fees plus annual stipend (36 months). Start date by September 2026.
How to Apply
Submit your CV, academic transcript, and a brief research interest statement to Dr. Yuqian Lu at yuqian.lu@auckland.ac.nz by April 1, 2026.