Postdoctoral fellows in Automatic Control

Description of the workplace

Automatic Control is an exciting and broad subject, covering both deep mathematics and hands-on engineering. Historically it has been instrumental in many areas, from the early development of telecommunications to the space race. Today, driven by the need to engineer ever larger systems, Automatic Control has never been more relevant. The department has a stimulating and international environment consisting of PhD students, postdocs and teachers coming from all corners of the world. Research and teaching are conducted in an open and progressive atmosphere with challenges and cooperation both within academia and with industry, with national and international networks. Lund University and the Department of Automatic Control welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard equality and diversity as a strength and an asset. 

Do you want to be part of a research environment committed to address control challenges essential for a future sustainable society? Then these postdoctoral positions are aimed for you!

Subject description

We are hiring 1-3 postdocs within the following projects:

The first project, Dual Control at Scale: Learning-based control for systems with millions of states, is funded by an ERC Advanced Grant, a prestigious international grant aimed to give long term support for groundbreaking research. The project is devoted to learning-based control for high-dimensional data. Application to individually optimized immunotherapy for cancer will also be considered. The grant covers two postdocs and three PhD students with complementing competences. In this call, we are looking for one postdoc who is mathematically oriented, with strong background in systems theory and control, and one postdoc with a strong background in mathematics/control combined with ability to collaborate with cancer researchers and immunotherapy specialists.

The second project, Structure, Dynamics and Control of Complex Networks, is funded by WASP, the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems, and Software Program. Here, we use systems and graph theoretical tools to describe dynamic behaviors of large-scale interconnected systems. Depending on the successful candidate’s background, topics of interest include structure or dynamics inference, optimal control in and of networks, or characterization of fundamental limitations. The complex networks of interest include engineered as well as social and sociotechnical systems.

Work duties

The main duties involved in a post-doctoral position is to conduct research within the respective project. The candidate is also expected to contribute to the general scientific discussion at the department, to the teaching of PhD level courses. Teaching may take up to no more than 20% of working hours.  Depending on the research project, the candidate may also be expected to initiate and maintain inter-departmental or industrial collaborations, and to assist in supervising students on MSc and PhD levels. The position includes the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning. The purpose of the position is to develop the independence as a researcher and to create the opportunity of further development. Travels will be included in the work duties.

The work duties are mainly

• Research within the subject area
• Teaching of PhD courses
• Supervision of doctoral students
• Administration related to the work duties listed above

Qualification requirements

Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position. The certificate proving the qualification requirement is met, must be received before the employment decision is made. Priority will be given to candidates who have graduated no more than three years ago before the last day for application. Special circumstances may be applicable in certain cases, e.g. parental leave, or relevant industrial experience. The working languages are English and Swedish. Excellent skills in both spoken and written English is a requirement for the position. Interest in learning Swedish during the employment in Lund is desirable.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Scientific independence
• Demonstrated ability to drive and follow through a research project
• Ability to collaborate and network with colleagues both within and outside academia
• Good communication skills

Assessment criteria

This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

We are looking for a person who is flexible and open, willing to cooperate and contribute to the overall working climate at the department. Other bases of assessment are independence and a display of initiative, as well as ability to make new connections, communicate and collaborate with colleagues both within and outside academia.

Consideration will also be given to how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Consideration will also be given to how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-lund-university

Further information

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of two years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”). We aim two hire 1-3 postdoctors starting their employment September 1, 2026, at the latest.

How to apply

Applications are to be submitted via the University’s recruitment system. The application should include a CV and a personal letter justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. The application should also include a degree certificate or equivalent and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (copies of grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.)”  

Welcome to apply!