Post Doc Researcher in the area of intelligent control of networked systems

Ricercatore con PhD nell’area del controllo intelligente per sistemi e reti (SUPSI 26_5038)

PostDoc Researcher in the area of intelligent control of networked systems

The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) invites applications for a PostDoc Researcher in the area of "intelligent control of networked systems", with focus on “semantic world models for safe, explainable Physical AI”, at the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA USI-SUPSI) within the Department of Innovative Technologies (DTI), located in Lugano. The degree of employment is 100%, with a contract starting on 01.11.2026, or on a mutually agreed date.

Duties and responsibilities

• Collaborate on European and industrial projects by developing semantic reasoning, agentic AI, and knowledge representation techniques, with applications in industrial processes and robotics.
• Conduct innovative research in the aforementioned fields.
• Design and implement experiments to explore novel approaches and techniques in the areas mentioned above.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to address complex challenges in related fields.
• Co-supervise PhD candidates and students.
• Support the LEON team (https://leon.idsia.ch/) and contribute to the preparation of research- and application-oriented project proposals, including projects developed in collaboration with industry partners.
• Publish research results in high-quality international conferences and journals.

Requirements

Technical background and skills

• PhD in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Informatics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated programming skills in Python and experience with semantic technologies such as RDF, SPARQL, and OWL.
• Strong track record of scientific publications in the relevant research areas.
• Previous experience in supervising PhD candidates and students in their thesis work.
• Demonstrated ability to independently prepare and submit project proposals in competitive funding calls, such as EU programmers.

Soft skills

• Very good communication skills in spoken and written English.
• Ability to work in a team and in a collaborative environment.
• Autonomy.

Desirable but not strictly required

• Demonstrated background in semantic reasoning, agentic AI, semantic web technologies, and knowledge representation techniques.
• Experience in research projects involving robotic systems.

What SUPSI Offers

• A full-time employment contract, initially for two years, with possibility of extension.
• Attractive salary, in line with Swiss standards and the candidate's experience.
• An international working environment.
• Travel support to participate to high quality conferences and workshops.
• Opportunity to develop professional and scientific skills.
• Co-supervision of PhDs and students.

Application Process

Applications will only be considered if submitted electronically by 13.09.2026, through the dedicated application form. The following documents, written in English, must be included:

• Curriculum vitae and publications list
• Three published papers in the field of the call
• Name and e-mail address of three reference contacts
• A motivation letter, including a brief description of past research experience and future interests (1 page)

For further information, please contact: Prof. Dario Piga. Incomplete applications, those submitted to incorrect addresses, or those received after the deadline will not be considered. In addition to the required application documents, further documentation (such as a criminal record certificate or a copy of an identity document) may be requested at a later stage.