Overview
The University of Southampton is offering a fully funded PhD position aimed at developing a sustainable, lifelong on-device robot learning system. This opportunity is significant for the AI and robotics community, as it addresses critical challenges in robot learning, particularly related to efficiency and sustainability.
Background & Relevance
The field of robot learning is evolving, with a focus on enabling robots to learn multiple tasks throughout their operational lifespan. Traditional approaches often lead to catastrophic forgetting, where robots lose previously acquired knowledge when learning new tasks. This dilemma, known as the stability-plasticity trade-off, highlights the need for robots to retain old knowledge while acquiring new skills. Recent advancements in lifelong learning strategies, such as regularization, dynamic growth, and experience replay, have shown promise but often require substantial computational resources, which can hinder their application in real-world scenarios. This PhD project aims to enhance the efficiency of continual robot learning while maintaining performance, contributing to sustainability by reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Key Details
- Project Title: Resource-efficient lifelong robot learning
- Funding Available For: UK, EU, and Horizon Europe Associated Countries
- Entry Requirements:
- A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree) or its international equivalent
- IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent) for non-native English speakers
- Closing Date: 31 August 2025
- Application Email: burhan.hafez@soton.ac.uk
- More Information: University of Southampton PhD Project
Eligibility & Participation
This PhD position is open to candidates who have a strong academic background in relevant fields, particularly those who are passionate about advancing robot learning technologies. It targets individuals interested in sustainable AI solutions and those who wish to contribute to innovative research in robotics.
Submission or Application Guidelines
To apply for this position, candidates should prepare a pre-application package that includes:
– Curriculum Vitae (CV)
– Academic transcripts
– Sample publications (if available)
– Two references
– A cover letter detailing their research vision and interest in the position
These materials should be sent to Dr. Muhammad Burhan Hafez at burhan.hafez@soton.ac.uk.
More Information
This PhD project is positioned at the intersection of robotics and sustainable AI, addressing the pressing need for efficient learning systems in non-networked environments. By focusing on resource efficiency and minimizing carbon footprints, the research aligns with global sustainability goals, making it a vital contribution to the field of AI and robotics.
Conclusion
This is a unique opportunity for aspiring researchers to engage in groundbreaking work in sustainable robot learning. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply and contribute to innovative solutions in the field. Explore this opportunity further and consider submitting your application by the deadline.
Category: PhD & Postdoc Positions
Tags: robotics, lifelong learning, sustainable AI, machine learning, resource efficiency, University of Southampton, PhD opportunity, AI research, continual learning, carbon emissions, on-device learning, data handling
