项目介绍

2026年4月9日

Are you interested in exploring the fundamental interplay between dynamical systems, statistical physics and machine learning, and using these insights to develop new methods, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a PhD position at Uppsala University. 

The Department of Information Technology holds a leading position in both research and education at all levels. We are currently Uppsala University’s third largest department, having around 350 employees, including 120 teachers and 120 PhD students. Approximately 5,000 undergraduate students take one or more courses at the department each year. You can find more information about us on the Department of Information Technology website.

At the Division of Systems and Control, we develop both theory and concrete tools to design systems that learn, reason, and act in the real world based on a seamless combination of data, mathematical models, and algorithms. Our research integrates expertise from control theory, machine learning, optimization, and network science, spanning diverse application domains such as energy systems, biomedical systems, neuroscience, and safety and security. The Division of Systems and Control enjoys a wide network of strong international collaborators all around the world, for example at the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College, University of British Columbia, University of Sydney, University of Newcastle and Aalto University. We strive for all PhD students to get a solid international experience during their PhD.

Project description
The aim of this project is to deepen the fundamental understanding of machine learning through the lens of optimal transport theory, systems theory, and statistical physics. Optimal transport is a key mathematical concept that allows us to understand notions like inference and sampling as dynamic processes of probability distributions. Building on the theoretical insights, we will develop new methods for machine learning and dynamical systems, including generative modeling and system identification, with applications in biomedical modeling, large-scale autonomous systems, computer vision, and AI for science. The exact details of the research project are decided in a dialogue between the doctoral student and the supervisor.

The student will be part of the WASP graduate school. Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) is Sweden’s largest individual research program ever, a major national initiative for strategically motivated basic research, education and faculty recruitment. The program addresses research on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems acting in collaboration with humans, adapting to their environment through sensors, information and knowledge, and forming intelligent systems-of-systems.

The vision of WASP is excellent research and competence in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software for the benefit of Swedish society and industry. Read more: https://wasp-sweden.org/

The graduate school within WASP is dedicated to provide the skills needed to analyze, develop, and contribute to the interdisciplinary area of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software. Through an ambitious program with research visits, partner universities, and visiting lecturers, the graduate school actively supports forming a strong multi-disciplinary and international professional network between PhD-students, researchers and industry.

Duties 
The doctoral student will devote their time mainly to graduate education. The rest of the duties may involve teaching at the department, including some administration, to at most 20%.

Requirements 
To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must:

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in applied mathematics, engineering mathematics, engineering physics, or in a similar field, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

The University may permit an exemption from the general entry requirements for an individual applicant, if there are special grounds (Chapter 7, § 39 of the Higher Education Ordinance). For special entry requirements, please see the subject’s general study plan.

We are looking for candidates with:

• a solid background and interest in mathematics,
• good communication skills with sufficient proficiency in oral and written English,
• a good academic record with high grades,
• proficiency in programming,
• personal characteristics, such as a high level of creativity, thoroughness, and/or a structured approach to problem-solving are essential

Additional qualifications 
Experience and courses in one or more of the following subjects are particularly valued: Dynamical systems, measure theory, optimization, statistical machine learning.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University’s rules and guidelines.

Application
The application must include:

1. a cover letter (at most one page), in English, briefly describing your motivation for applying for this position and the earliest possible employment date. The cover letter should include the heading Suitability for this position, containing a self-assessment on why you would be the right candidate for this position;
2. a CV;
3. degrees and transcript of records with grades (translated to English or Swedish);
4. the Master’s thesis (or a draft thereof, and/or some other self-produced technical or scientific text), publications, and other relevant documents;
5. references with contact information (names, emails and telephone number) and up to two letters of recommendation.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date September 1, 2026 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Isabel Haasler, email: isabel.haasler@it.uu.se, website: https://sites.google.com/view/isabelhaasler/home

Please submit your application by May 19, 2026, UFV-PA 2026/1073.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? Find out more about what it´s like to work and live in Sweden.