PhD scholarship within Predictive Runtime Verification of AI-enabled Robotic Autonomous Systems

About the position

A PhD position is available in the Robotics Group at the Faculty of Science and Technology.

The PhD position is for a period of 3 years, with a desired start date of 1st of January 2026.

Recent advances in AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) bring major challenges regarding safety, uncertainty management, accountability, and runtime assurance in autonomous robotic systems. Operating in safety-critical, highly complex, dynamic, and hostile environments require systems to maintain formal safety guarantees while optimizing operational efficiency.

As a selected candidate for the announced PhD position, you will research and develop novel, context-aware, AI-enabled Predictive Runtime Verification (PRV) frameworks and adaptive monitors. By anticipating anomalies or failures before they occur, your research will enable proactive corrective actions and real-time replanning in robotic autonomous systems.

The PhD position is part of the research project PREVAIL - Predictive Runtime Verification of AI-enabled Systems, funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN). The project builds upon scientific foundations established in the RoboFarmer project and is conducted in close strategic partnership with the Norwegian Defence University College (FHS) who will also serve as co-supervisor for the candidate and provide opportunity for research stay at FHS.

In addition, the PhD work will provide ample opportunity to conduct research in collaboration with international academic partners, most notably at Académie Militaire de Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan, France, University of York, UK and Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden. The PREVAIL project will encourage the selected PhD candidate and provide opportunities to benefit intellectually from interaction and extended visits with internationally recognized researchers and institutes.

This PhD position is funded through the Research Council of Norway's call Supplementary Funding for Ongoing Projects to Enhance Knowledge and Results Transfer from ICT Research to the Defence Sector. The funding scheme requires candidates to be eligible for security clearance at a minimum level of "Secret". As the project is expected to involve research subject to Norwegian export control regulations, appointment is contingent upon the successful candidate obtaining the required security clearance and any necessary export control licences or approvals.

Main tasks

• Survey state-of-the-art AI-enabled Predictive Runtime Verification (PRV) methodologies and analyze their suitability for defence-oriented, safety-critical, autonomous robotic applications. 
• Formulate and develop novel algorithms, formal methodologies, and tools for context-aware PRV and AI-enhanced monitor synthesis.
• Conduct a research stay at the Norwegian Defence University College (FHS) to align research with the domain-specific requirements and preferences.
• Integrate PRV frameworks with adaptive risk-mitigation, failure avoidance, and real-time replanning mechanisms.
• Perform early-phase prototyping, software implementation (e.g., ROS 2), and testing on robotic platforms in defence-relevant environments and scenarios.
• Author scientific papers for presentation at international high-impact conferences and peer-reviewed journals.
• Complete mandatory PhD coursework and seminars in accordance with NMBU doctoral regulations.

Competence

Required qualifications

• A Master's degree or equivalent in Robotics, Computer Science, Cybernetics, Formal Methods, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related field. Foreign degrees must correspond with the admission criteria for the PhD program. Candidates submitting M.Sc. thesis within the application deadline may be considered.
• In the Master’s degree, both the average grade point and the Master’s thesis, must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system. Applicants who have recently graduated with excellent results may be given preference.
• Proficiency in both written and oral English in correspondence with the admission criteria for the PhD program.
• Solid knowledge and background in at least two of the following fields: Formal Methods / Runtime Verification, AI / Machine Learning, Autonomous Systems / Control, or Software Development for Robotics (e.g., ROS/ROS 2). 
• Strong programming skills (Python, C++, etc.) 
• The successful candidate must be eligible for security clearance at a minimum level of "Secret" and any licences or approvals required under Norwegian export control legislation
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position.

Qualifications considered an advantage

• Experience with formal verification, model-checking, runtime monitoring, and/or temporal logic synthesis. 
• Experience with AI models, Large Language Models (LLMs), or reinforcement learning integrated into robotic control loops.
• Experience with safety assurance, risk analysis, adaptive systems, or research involving real-world autonomous applications.
• Practical experience working with physical mobile robotic hardware, sensors, and simulation environments.
• Previous research and peer-reviewed publications within these domains.

Personal qualities

• Be curios, result-oriented and highly motivated
• Possess strong communication and cooperation skills
• Have a solid interest in robotics
• Good collaboration skills and an ability to join interdisciplinary academic/industrial communities

Remuneration and further information

Salary in position as PhD Research Fellow, position code 1017, 550 800 NOK. For exceptionally well qualified candidates a higher salary may be considered. 

By applying, the candidate confirms that information and documentation submitted via the job application may also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process to the PhD program. Admission to a PhD program is a prerequisite for appointment to the PhD position.

For professional and social interactions, the candidate is expected to be physically present at NMBU on a daily basis.

Employment is to be made in accordance with Regulations to the Universities and University Colleges Act and Regulations for the PhD degree at the Norwegian University of Life Science (NMBU) , and in accordance with the Civil Servant Act, the Security Act, and the Export Control Act. 

Appointment is contingent upon the candidate obtaining the required security clearance and any licences or approvals required under Norwegian export control legislation.

For further information, please contact Associate Professor: David Anisi (main supervisor), e-mail: david.anisi @nmbu.no.

Information for PhD applicants and general Information to applicants

Application

Send application electronically via the link "Apply for this job" at the top of this page. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form. 

Application Deadline: 01.12.2026

Your CV must be entered in Jobbnorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is in order to be able to comply with the regulations to the Public Administration Act §15.

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged. Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

• Motivation letter
• CV 
• Certified copies of relevant academic diplomas and certificates. Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
• Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
• Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with Forskrift for graden philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) ved Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet - Lovdata
• Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.

About The Faculty of Science and Technology

The Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) develops research-based knowledge and educates civil engineers and lecturers needed to reach the UN's sustainability goals. We have approximately 150 employees, 70 PhD students and soon 1500 students. The education and research at REALTEK cover a broad spectrum of disciplines.

This includes data science, mechanics and process engineering, robotics, construction and architecture, industrial economics, environmental physics and renewable energy, geomatics, water and environmental engineering, applied mathematics as well as secondary school teacher education in natural sciences and use of natural resources such as in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. The workplace is in Ås, 30 km from Oslo.

What is it really like to work at the Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) at NMBU?

 - Guided tour of the Faculty of Science and Technology on Vimeo