1-2 Doctoral Researchers in Human-Centered World Model for Human-Robot Interaction

The Department of Computing is looking for one to two Doctoral Researchers to join a research group of ELLIS PI, Associate Professor Xucong Zhang. You will be working alongside colleagues from academia, ELLIS Institute Finland community and industry.

The fixed-term employment starts in November 2026 (or by mutual agreement) and the length of the position is four years (48 months).

The research group fosters a collaborative and innovative environment with ELLIS Institute Finland and University of Turku, pushing the boundaries of AI and Foundation Model research with a strong emphasis on real-world impact. Our work bridges technical sophistication with real-world applications, exploring fundamental research questions in multiple human interactive behavior modeling, understanding, and generation, with the aim of natural human-AI interaction. We aim to build a world-model containing multiple virtual human avatars interaction for large-scale training data generation, insert the social aspect of interaction, and train the interactive model to drive the intelligent agent.

ELLIS Institute Finland (https://www.ellisinstitute.fi) is a newly established world-class research hub in AI and machine learning. We are developing an ecosystem of top talents, businesses and investments in Finland, with fundamental machine learning research at the core. The Institute is part of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS), which aims to build a pan-European institution for machine learning research.

We are seeking highly motivated and talented Doctoral Researchers to join our dynamic team. The successful candidates will contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of World Model, Human-AI Interaction, and Generative AI. This position offers a unique opportunity to conduct fundamental and applied research on the next generation of AI systems for addressing critical challenges.

The successful candidate(s) will engage in research within one or more of the following areas.

• Social Intelligence and Human-Centered AI: Investigating and developing social-aware interactions between multiple humans in generative modelling.

• Multimodal Learning and Representation: Building a system to capture the complex behavior with multimodal including audio, body gesture, eye gaze, and hand pose.

• Embodied AI and Physical AI Systems: Investigating how complex interactions can be represented, integrated, and learned across diverse domains, modalities, and environments.

• Conduct original, high-quality research leading to publications in top-tier conferences and journals.

• Develop and implement novel algorithms and models in specified research areas.

• Contribute to the design and execution of research projects, including generative modeling, experimentation, and analysis.

• Collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams, including domain experts, and fellow researchers.

• Participate in lab meetings, seminars, and other academic activities.

• Contribute to or assist with teaching activities within related programs.

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 22 October 2026 at 16.00 (Europe/Helsinki).

Applications should be submitted in English and they should include:

• A list of publications (if you have)

• Contact details of at least two referees (or letters of recommendation, if already available)

• MSc degree in Computer Science, Information System, or Artificial Intelligence.

• A solid foundation in deep learning and 3D modeling.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken).

• Programming skills (e.g., Python).

• Interest in collaborative research with both academia and industry.

Qualification requirements

The eligibility criteria for prospective applicants are defined in the University of Turku Rules of Procedure: university-of-turku-rules-of-procedure.pdf.

A person selected for the post of Doctoral Researcher is required to have a right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Turku. In addition, when acquiring their degree or otherwise, they are required to have demonstrated the ability to undertake postgraduate studies and the capacity to complete a doctoral degree in accordance with the research plan.

Please note that before obtaining the study right for a Doctoral Program, the job title will be Project Researcher, and the employment contract will be made until 31.3.2027. The candidate is expected to apply for the study right in the next available Autumn 2026 call to e.g. the Doctoral Programme in Technology.

Thus, please check the student information and application criteria Doctoral Programme in Technology - Admission Criteria and Instructions for Applicants | University of Turku (please pay attention to the mandatory skill level in English).

Read more about the University of Turku's doctoral programmes and how to apply for study rights Join us for your doctoral studies at the University of Turku! | University of Turku

In exceptional cases, we may also consider applicants who have completed nearly all the studies required for a master's degree in a relevant field. In such cases, the job title at the start of the employment will be Research Assistant, and the starting salary (OV1) is on average 2400 euros/month, depending on competence and experience.

We value collegiality and promote equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We encourage all qualified applicants with different backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

• A motivation letter

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Degree certificates and academic transcripts

• Possible other documents that affect the decision-making (for example research plan, awards, a valid International English proficiency certificate, e.g. IELTS, TOEFL)

• A four-year fully funded Doctoral Researcher position

• A stimulating and supportive research environment with access to state-of-the-art computational resources (e.g., GPUs, computing clusters).

• A dynamic working environment in collaboration with the ELLIS Institute Finland, the University of Turku research group, and other international partners.

• Opportunities for collaboration with leading researchers in AI, including both academic and industrial partners.

• Participation in cutting-edge projects with real-world impact on human-AI interaction.

• Opportunities for professional development, conference attendance, and networking.

We offer you responsible and interesting tasks and the opportunity to develop your professional skills in a versatile operating environment. You get a professional and inspiring team to support your work. We take care of your well-being at work and the functionality of your everyday life, e.g. with the help of flexible working hours and our well-being services.

Please read more about University of Turku as an employer from our Come work with us! pages.

The European Commission has awarded the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research quality label. The label is a token of the University's commitment to continuous development of the position and working conditions of researchers according to the guidelines set forth in the European Charter for Researchers.

The university offers good support and orientation for international hires. Please learn more about the Finnish culture and relocation to Finland:

• City of Turku

• Welcome visitor

• International House of Turku

• Working culture: infoFinland.fi

• This is Finland

• Careers in Southwest Finland

• Finland - a superpower of education and innovations | University of Turku (utu.fi)

The University of Turku is among the top of the world’s universities in most rankings and among the best universities in the world in certain fields. Our high-quality basic research, a multidisciplinary research profile and close cooperation in research infrastructures creates the basis for international top research. Read more about University of Turku in international university rankings.

The University of Turku has several high-quality research infrastructures required for cutting-edge research. Learn more about the roadmap of research infrastructures and how the research infrastructure and expert teams offer tailored solutions for businesses and organizations.

The salary is determined in accordance with the university salary system for teaching and research personnel and will depend on the degree and qualifications of the applicant.

For a doctoral/project researcher (OV02-OV04), the salary will be in the beginning of the employment on average 2500–2700 euros/month, depending on previous experience and skills.

The amount of the salary is defined when the employment contract is prepared.

A six (6) month trial period applies to the position(s).

For further information about the position, please contact: ELLIS PI, Associate Professor Xucong Zhang, xucong.zhang@utu.fi.

With questions about the application process, please contact: HR specialist Nina Reini, nina.reini@utu.fi.

University of Turku reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period, reopen the application process, and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.