PhD student (Doctoral Researcher) in Multi-Modal Shared Autonomy in Assistive Robotics F/M

Role Summary

The Human-centered Robotics and AI group's research lies at the intersection of robotics, human-robot interaction, machine learning, and participatory design, with the goal of creating robots that are physically useful and socially acceptable.

Do you want to shape the future of assistive robotics and help people with disabilities interact with the world in new ways?

We are offering a fully funded -year PhD position at the Idiap Research Institute, Switzerland, with enrolment in the EDEE doctoral programme at EPFL. The project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and focuses on multimodal shared autonomy to enable people with disabilities to control robotic systems in activities of daily living.

This project tackles a fundamental challenge in accessible human-robot interaction: how can we co-design robotic systems with people with disabilities to enhance autonomy, participation, and self-expression in everyday life? Rather than considering people with disabilities solely as users or evaluators of technology, this project adopts a participatory approach in which they play an active role in the design of assistive robotic systems and shared-autonomy technologies.

You will focus on exploring accessible shared-autonomy strategies that enable robots to interpret rich, real-time user inputs and assist with both practical daily activities and expressive tasks. This research combines the investigation of fundamental questions in shared autonomy with direct engagement with end users. Through participatory design and research-through-design methodologies, you will study how people with disabilities communicate intentions to robotic systems, design accessible interfaces adapted to diverse abilities, and explore and evaluate how multimodal shared-autonomy strategies can improve robotic control and feeling of agency for the users.

The position is embedded within the Human-centered Robotics and AI (HRAI) group and will involve close collaboration with researchers from both the HRAI group and the Perception & Activity Understanding group. You will work at the intersection of human-robot interaction, artificial intelligence, participatory design, and accessible technologies, with opportunities for international collaboration and interdisciplinary impact.

We are looking for candidates with a solid technical foundation, curiosity about human-centred AI and robotics, and an interest in shaping technologies that can make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

The PhD candidate will be primarily supervised by Dr. Emmanuel Senft and co-supervised by Dr. Jean-Marc Odobez.

Your duties:

• Investigate novel approaches to multimodal shared autonomy and accessible human-robot interaction
• Formulate research questions and design experiments in accessible human-robot interaction
• Co-design and evaluate assistive robotic technologies with people with disabilities using participatory design methods
• Develop and validate software on multiple robotic platforms, including the Lio mobile manipulator and the Stretch robot in laboratory and real-world settings
• Work closely with researchers from the Perception & Activity Understanding group to integrate state-of-the-art perception methods into shared-autonomy frameworks
• Publish and present scientific results in leading international conferences (, HRI, CHI, IROS, ICRA) and journals (, THRI, Frontiers in Robotics and AI, Science Robotics)

Your Profile

The ideal PhD candidate should have the following:

• A Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, or a closely related field
• A solid technical foundation and enthusiasm for developing advanced skills in robotics and AI
• Prior experience working with robotic platforms
• Interest in human-centred technologies, accessibility, and real-world impact
• Willingness to step beyond disciplinary boundaries to solve complex interdisciplinary problems
• Experience conducting user studies and analysing human-centred data is a plus
• Excellent communication and scientific writing skills
• Motivation to work in an international research environment and confront research with real needs from the field
• Knowledge of French is a plus
• Candidates already accepted into the EDEE, EDIC, or EDRS doctoral programmes at EPFL are strongly encouraged to apply

As a research institute whose motto is “AI for Society”, we strive to provide equal opportunities for all and recognise that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds strengthen the quality and impact of our research. We therefore actively encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences, including women and members of groups currently underrepresented in robotics and AI.

Reviewing of applications will begin on: July st

About Idiap

Idiap is a research institute of national importance that engages in fundamental research, education and technology transfer in artificial intelligence. Idiap offers competitive salaries and conditions in a dynamic, multicultural environment.

Idiap is located in Martigny, Valais, a scenic region in the south of Switzerland, surrounded by the highest mountains of Europe, and offering exceptional quality of life, exciting recreational activities, including hiking, climbing and skiing, as well as varied cultural activities.

At Idiap, we believe that diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. If you believe that you could excel in this role, but you are not sure you meet all the required criteria, we very much welcome your application.

Required languages

• English - Level advanced