One or more PhDs in Collaborative Localization and Sensor Integration for Unmanned Maritime Systems

At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, AAU Energy offers a PhD stipend position within the general study program. The position is offered in relation to the research group Underwater Technology, and the PhD Students will be positioned in the Esbjerg Energy section.

The positions are part of the ABBA USV project and are open for appointments from the 1st of March 2026 or soon hereafter. The duration of the positions is three years.

The ABBA USV project addresses the growing need for reliable and autonomous offshore infrastructure inspection and surveillance. The project integrates unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) into a unified, collaborative robotics system designed for inspection and surveillance tasks. These vehicles will operate in challenging marine environments to perform monitoring of cables, pipelines, platforms, and other critical subsea infrastructure with minimal human intervention. The collaboration between vehicles will be enabled through shared control, communication protocols, and mission planning, allowing them to function as a coordinated unit. The multi-vehicle platform will be developed by the project partners throughout the project and validated in offshore conditions.

PhD Focus Area: Collaborative Localization and Sensor Integration

This PhD position will focus on developing and integrating methods for collaborative localization and sensor fusion in the ABBA USV system. The goal is to enable precise navigation and situational awareness across heterogeneous vehicles, particularly in GPS-denied and perceptually challenging underwater environments.

Key research activities could include:

• Cross-vehicle localization for automation: Developing techniques for collaborative localization between USV and UUV to support autonomous coordination and mission execution. This includes using relative measurements, shared environmental representations, and synchronized data exchange to enable precise and reliable positioning across vehicles.
• Multi-sensor integration: Designing sensor fusion pipelines that combine sonar, inertial sensors (IMUs), Doppler velocity logs (DVL), and short baseline (SBL) systems. The focus is on achieving robust performance in GPS-denied, low-visibility, or acoustically challenging underwater environments.
• Interoperability and data sharing: Investigating lightweight and reliable communication methods for real-time sharing of localization and sensor data between vehicles, supporting cooperative behaviors such as joint mapping, coordinated inspection, or adaptive navigation.
• Digital twin simulation and testing: Developing and using digital twin models to simulate the integrated sensor suite and multi-vehicle behavior. These models will allow for iterative development and testing of localization and integration strategies prior to field deployment.
• Field experiments and validation: Conducting harbor and offshore trials to evaluate localization system performance under real-world operating conditions. Experiments will assess positioning accuracy, communication reliability, and the ability to support downstream autonomous functions such as mapping and inspection.

Note: This PhD will work in close collaboration with other PhD candidates and researchers focusing on cooperative control, anomaly detection, and mission planning within the same project.

Qualifications and Skills
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering field, such as robotics, automation, marine technology, control engineering, computer science, or a related field. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19, 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time.

The ideal candidate will have some of the following skills:

• Localization and sensor fusion: Solid understanding of localization techniques and sensor integration. Experience with SLAM algorithms (vision-, acoustic-, or inertial-based), state estimation (e.g. Kalman filtering, pose graph optimization), or collaborative positioning is highly valued.
• Mathematical skills: Competence in mathematical modeling of dynamic systems and probabilistic frameworks. Experience with machine learning or AI methods for localization or perception (e.g. learning-based SLAM, data-driven sensor fusion) is a plus.
• Underwater or field robotics experience: Prior exposure to marine robotics (UUVs, AUVs, USVs) or other field-deployed robotic systems is advantageous. Understanding of the operational characteristics and limitations of underwater sensors (e.g. sonar, DVL, SBL, IMUs, pressure sensors) is particularly relevant.
• Technical computing skills: Proficiency in programming (e.g. Python and C++). Familiarity with robotics software frameworks such as ROS, MATLAB/Simulink, and simulation environments like Gazebo or Unity. Experience developing software for real-time sensor processing or robotic systems is expected.
• Soft skills: Strong communication skills in English, both written and oral. We are looking for candidates who are curious, motivated, and capable of working both independently and collaboratively with other researchers, engineers, and industry partners.

Who we are    
The Underwater Technology research group at AAU Energy in Esbjerg focuses on applied research in autonomous marine systems, including control, perception, and system integration. The group works with modeling, algorithm development, and experimental validation, with an emphasis on rapid prototyping and deployment in real-world scenarios. Research activities include control of unmanned systems, multi-modal sensor fusion, underwater perception, and digital twin simulation. The group collaborates closely with industrial partners in the offshore energy and maritime sectors and conducts experimental testing in both lab and field environments, including harbor and offshore trials.

Aalborg University contributes to the knowledge building of the global society as well as the development of prosperity, welfare, and culture of Danish society. This is accomplished through research, research-based education, public sector services, and knowledge collaboration. AAU educates students for the future and activities are based on a dynamic and transformative collaboration with the surrounding community. 

AAU Energy is a dynamic engineering research department in continuous growth and inspiring surroundings. AAU Energy has a very international environment and covers all areas of clean and sustainable energy systems of the future within electrical, thermal and mechatronic energy technology. AAU Energy has campuses in both Aalborg and Esbjerg, this position is located in Esbjerg. 

The mission is to be world leading in both research and research-based education of the energy engineers of the future. AAU Energy has approx. 300 employees of many nationalities, of which 25 are administrative staff. In addition, AAU Energy constantly has approx. 50-70 guest researchers from around the world. 

Research and teaching are in the absolute world elite in the field of energy, and we have extensive and leading workshop and laboratory facilities, where research and innovation are carried out in direct collaboration with industry to a great extent.

Learn more about AAU Energy at www.energy.aau.dk.

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

As part of your application, you must submit a 1–2 page project description outlining your envisioned approach to this PhD project. In this document, please describe the state-of-the-art related to collaborative control/localization, identify key research gaps, and propose your initial ideas for tackling the project’s objectives, including a tentative work plan/timeline. This helps us evaluate your understanding of the topic and your innovative thinking.
Your complete application should be submitted via AAU’s online recruitment system and include:

• An application cover letter detailing your motivation for applying and your qualifications relevant to this project.
• Curriculum Vitae with information on your education, technical skills, and any research or work experience (include publications if any).
• Academic transcripts and diplomas (BSc and MSc degrees).
• Short project description (1–2 pages as described above, in PDF format).
• Any additional relevant documents, such as reference letters or English proficiency proof (if applicable).

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website. 

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions?     
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

For professional questions, please contact Malte von Benzon, msrvb@energy.aau.dk.

Further information  
Read more about our recruitment process here.

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Read more about The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science

Salary and terms of employment
When pursuing a PhD at Aalborg University, you'll receive a stipend which includes both salary and pension benefits. The base salary starts at a minimum of 31.242,75 DKK before taxes, with an additional 18,01% added for pension contributions. However, the final salary can be negotiated based on your qualifications and experience, with seniority playing a key role in determining the main salary.
Read more about pension options here.

At Aalborg University's Doctoral School, engineering PhD students enjoy unique career development opportunities. These include personalized DISC profile assessments with feedback, career-focused courses, and networking events with trade unions, employers, and other relevant parties. Learn more about these initiatives at our Career Hub.

The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (in Danish)