CALL - March 2026

PhD in Data Driven Optimal Control for Non-Linear Uncertain Systems

Deadline: May 25, 2026

Research Title
Optimal and Formal Control of Non-Linear Uncertain Systems

Funded by
The Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI4I), in collaboration with IMT

Supervisors
Luca Laurenti

Contact:
luca.laurenti@ai4i.it

The Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI4I), in collaboration with IMT, invites applications for a PhD position focused on Optimal and Formal Control of non-linear uncertain systems.

Modern autonomous systems, such as autonomous vehicles or robotics systems, are commonly affected by various sources of uncertainty. These include both the uncertainty caused by the intrinsic randomness in the system dynamics and the uncertainty due to the use of statistical learning algorithms to estimate the unknown components/parameters of the system. Consequently, it is common that mathematical models are not only stochastic, but the distributions of the various random variables are themselves uncertain. As a result, when these models are used in safety-critical applications, the resulting uncertainty cannot be neglected and must be propagated through possibly non-linear functions.

The Role
The PhD candidate will develop methods at the intersection of uncertain abstractions, Markov decision processes, and Model Predictive Control (MPC) to design controllers that are both provably correct and scalable. There will also be opportunities to test and validate these methods on real-world benchmarks. The project will be carried out in collaboration with AI4I and TU Delft.

Key Objectives

  • Develop scalable techniques for control of non-linear uncertain systems with formal guarantees of safety and performance.
  • Apply techniques to real-world benchmarks to evaluate effectiveness and scalability.

Expected Impact and Dissemination
Scientific results will be targeted for publication in top conferences and journals, such as:

  • Conferences: NeurIPS, ICML, CDC, UAI, AISTATS, IJCAI, AAAI
  • Journals: IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control (TAC), Automatica

Required Qualifications

  • Strong background in either control theory, theoretical computer science, or applied mathematics.
  • Good programming skills and proficiency in programming languages.
  • Strong analytical skills and an ability to work at the intersection of several research domains.
  • Be fluent in English, both written and oral.

What We Offer

  • Joint supervision between AI4I and IMT, with collaboration from TU Delft.
  • Access to high-performance computing resources and advanced research infrastructure.
  • Opportunities for international collaboration and contributions to high-impact publications.
  • A dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment bridging control theory, AI, and formal methods.

Start Date
1 November 2026

How to Apply
Applications for this position are managed by IMT University. Please submit your application through the official PhD admissions portal.
For additional information, please refer to the following resources:

Call for Applications (Italian)

Executive summary in English

 

Apply here

About Us

The Italian Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI4I) was founded as a research institute to perform transformative, application-oriented research in Artificial Intelligence, driving innovation and industrial progress. The Institute is designed to engage and empower gifted, entrepreneurial, and ambitious researchers who are committed to generating real-world impact at the intersection of science, technology, and industrial transformation.

Competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, access to dedicated high-performance computing resources, state-of-the-art laboratories, and strong industrial collaborations are among the distinctive features that define AI4I. The Institute fosters a dynamic international environment and an ecosystem that supports the creation and growth of innovative startups.

AI4I’s mission is to advance scientific research, technology transfer, and, more broadly, Italy’s innovation capacity, promoting positive impact across industry, services, and public administration. To achieve this, the Institute contributes to building a research and innovation infrastructure that leverages AI methods, with a special focus on manufacturing processes and the broader Industry 4.0 value chain.

AI4I also maintains strategic relationships with leading organizations in Italy and abroad, including Competence Centers and European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), positioning itself as an attractive destination for researchers, companies, and startups seeking collaboration and impact.