Postdoctoral position in Automatic control and optimal transport theory

Are you interested in working with control theory, using theory and tools from optimal transport, 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 Postdoctoral position at Uppsala University.

Uppsala University has a long tradition of successful research – among its alumni are 16 Nobel Prize laureates, including, most recently, Svante Pääbo. The University is unique when it comes to combining IT with wider research, from life sciences to the humanities, and this collaboration is currently facilitated by AI4Research and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Mathematics.

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.

Project description

In this project, the selected candidate will join us in working on theory and computational methods for optimal transport, with a focus on applications towards control theory or signal processing. Optimal transport is a mathematically rich theory for comparing probability distributions, and has recently evolved into a powerful tool for applications in control theory and machine learning. Building on these advancements, we will develop new theory and algorithms for optimal transport, targeting applications that may include control of multi-agent systems, inverse problems, and network data analysis. The exact details of the research project are decided in a dialogue between the postdoctoral researcher and the supervisor.

Duties

A Postdoctoral Fellow will devote most of their time to research. There is the possibility of participating in teaching (up to 20%).

Requirements

PhD degree in Applied Mathematics, Automatic control or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in Applied Mathematics or Automatic control. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Priority will be given to applicants who have completed their degree no more than three years before the deadline for applications.  Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

• The applicant must have a solid foundation in mathematics. Experience in one or more subjects are valued: optimal transport theory, control theory, optimization, dynamical systems, signal processing, system identification, machine learning.
• The candidate is expected to have publications 
  • at leading journals in control and applied mathematics; 
  • and/or top conferences in machine learning
• Proficiency in programming is required
• You are expected to be able to teach in English. Excellent knowledge of oral and written English is a requirement.

Additional qualifications

As a person, you are creative, thorough and have a structured approach. When selecting among the applicants we will assess their ability take initiative and move their work forward, to collaborate with others, to have a professional approach and to analyze and work with complex problems. Great emphasis will be placed on personal characteristics and personal suitability.

Application

The application must contain:

1. A curriculum vitae (CV),
2. A copy of relevant grade documents (translated into Swedish or English),
3. A list of publications
4. Up to five selected publications in electronic format
5. A research statement describing your past and current research (max 1 page) and a proposal for future activities (max 1 page).
6. Contact information for two references.

All applicants should state the earliest possible starting date of employment.

About the employment

The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date April 2026 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Isabel Haasler, email: isabel.haasler@it.uu.se, website:  Isabel Haasler

Please submit your application by 7 January 2026, UFV-PA 2025/2652.

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