PhD Scholarship in Software for Sustainable Farming

University of Southern Denmark - SDU; Odense; On-site; DKK 340,000 - 416,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southern Denmark – MMMI in Odense invites PhD candidates to join the Robotic Intercropping team. This three-year salaried PhD fellowship focuses on autonomous agricultural robots, digital twins, and safe operation to enable sustainable farming, biodiversity, and reduced chemical use.

You will collaborate with Denmark and Netherlands partners, develop lightweight robots and DTs, integrate multi‑modal sensing, and contribute to publications.

Qualifications

• Two-year master's degree in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent field.
• Specialization in digital twins and software engineering of control systems.
• Experience with swarm robotic systems, manipulator design, cyber-physical systems, SIMULINK, and robotic software development.
• Knowledge of mechanical design, control system theory, statistics, actuation, sensing, rapid prototyping, and manufacturing.
• Experience with ROS, Gazebo/NVIDIA Isaac/Omniverse or CoppeliaSim for simulation, and data/cloud platforms.

Responsibilities

• Be a core member of a team developing lightweight, modular robots and digital twins for scalable, precise interventions in complex intercropping environments.
• Engage in interdisciplinary research integrating robotic systems and digital twins with multi-modal sensing and AI, aligned with agronomist-defined needs.
• Participate in integration and field testing with Robotic Intercropping partners.
• Design software architecture; integrate multi-modal data and models (e.g., crop competition, farm-level); implement “what-if” simulation; develop robust interfaces (e.g., ROS) for planning, navigation, and precision actions.
• Collaborate with experts in plant science, robotics, statistics, and AI to bridge agroecology and robotic control.

Skills

Robotics

Digital twins

Interdisciplinary research

AI

Education

Master's degree in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science

Tools

ROS

Gazebo

NVIDIA Isaac/Omniverse

CoppeliaSim

Job description

Imagine a world where food production is in harmony with natural processes, farmers nurture healthy soils, and biodiversity thrives. In contrast, current monoculture farming systems undermine this future. Can you see how Robotics and Digital Twins can open opportunities for autonomously operating agricultural robots? Are you passionate about making agriculture more sustainable? If you share our passion for technology and the difference it can make in meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, perhaps you are our new PhD student.

At the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute(MMMI), University of Southern Denmark in Odense, you will be part of the Robotic Intercropping (https://roboticintercropping.eu) team working to break new ground at the absolute forefront of what is possible in safe operation of autonomous agricultural vehicles. These are needed to enable better land use and management. This project promotes sustainable economic growth and higher levels of technological innovation. It will benefit society and create a safer and smarter world by providing decent work for all. Furthermore, autonomous robots will make current labor-intensive cultivation systems (e.g., strip-cropping, targeted mechanical weed control, etc.) profitable, contributing to increased biodiversity locally and reducing the need for insecticide use.

Responsibilities and qualifications

The PhD project is funded by a grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation for the project Robotic Intercropping (https://roboticintercropping.eu). The project involves four research partners from Denmark and the Netherlands. Thus, this PhD project will be an integral part of a broader research team, consisting of collaborating partners with a common passion for autonomous agricultural robotics and new sustainable farming practices.

The PhD project will combine lightweight agricultural robots, manipulators for managing crop competition, and digital twins for modeling the working environment. If selected, your main focus will be.

• Digital Twins (DT). Development of a sophisticated DT as a dynamic representation of the field, modeling crop growth, canopy architecture, and competition for light, water, and nutrients. Integrate advanced sensors (e.g., spectral, LiDAR) and simulation tools to guide robotic actions for yield optimization and enhanced biodiversity.

Team and role

You will:

• Be a core member of a team developing lightweight, modular robots and digital twins for scalable, precise interventions in complex intercropping environments.
• Engage in interdisciplinary research integrating robotic systems and digital twins with multi-modal sensing and AI, aligned with agronomist-defined needs.
• Participate in integration and field testing with Robotic Intercropping partners.
• Design software architecture; integrate multi-modal data and models (e.g., crop competition, farm-level); implement “what-if” simulation; develop robust interfaces (e.g., ROS) for planning, navigation, and precision actions.
• Collaborate with experts in plant science, robotics, statistics, and AI to bridge agroecology and robotic control.

At MMMI you will be a part of the Software Engineering unit. Expected outcomes include conference and journal publications, experimental validation, conference presentations, and teaching-assistant experience.

Appointment

Appointment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position, and the monthly gross salary incl. pension is 37.075 DKK. If you have relevant postgraduate experience, you may be placed on a higher salary step.

The positions are available from December 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

We expect

Degree. A two-year master's degree (120 ECTS) in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent field (or a comparable degree at the same academic level).

Nice to have:

• Specialization in digital twins and software engineering of control systems (PhD#3).
• Experience with swarm robotic systems, manipulator design, cyber-physical systems, SIMULINK, and robotic software development.
• Knowledge of mechanical design, control system theory, statistics, actuation, sensing, rapid prototyping, and manufacturing.
• Experience with tools such as ROS, Gazebo/NVIDIA Isaac/Omniverse or CoppeliaSim for simulation, and data/cloud platforms.

Contact

For further information please contact:

• Associate Professor Juan Esteban Heredia Mena [e-mail]
• Associate Professor Jan Corfixen Sørensen [e-mail]

If you experience technical problems, please contact our email support.

Application

Assessment of candidates is based on the application material, and the application must include:

• Motivated application.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Master’s and Bachelor’s degree certificates or equivalent, including transcripts of grades(original and an official English translation).
• Completed TEK PhD application form for 5+3 applicants. Find the form at Faculty website.
• Completed TEK PhD form for calculation grade point average. Find the form at Faculty website.
• Only for applicants from programmes that evaluate thesis/examination project by approved/not approved: An official written assessment of the thesis or dissertation project from the grade giving institution. The statement must clearly state that the candidate has been among the top 30 pct. in the graduation class for the study programme.
• List of publications and maximum 2 examples of relevant publications (in case you have any publications).
• References may be included, you're welcome to use the form for reference letter at Faculty website.
• A statement/documentation of other qualifications relevant to the position may also be included.

All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration number) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked, allow binding and may not be password protected.

The application deadline isSeptember 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM/23:59 (CET/CEST)

Assessment and selection process

Applications will be assessed by an expert. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU. Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation. Read about the Assessment and selection process.

Enrollment and employment terms

Applicants must hold a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master's degree) at the time of enrollment and employment. Employment is contingent on enrollment approved by the PhD School. Enrollment will be in accordance with Faculty regulations and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities (PhD order). Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state including the associated circular on the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for PhD fellows as described therein as well as the Protocol on PhD fellows signed by the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).

Salary is determined in accordance with the applicable collective agreement and based on objective and gender-neutral criteria, including the content of the position, responsibilities, and qualification requirements. As an applicant, you are entitled to information about the starting salary and salary range for the position. This information will be provided during the recruitment process. SDU does not collect information on applicants’ previous salary. Further information on salary and taxation.

Persons employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”.

The University of Southern Denmark wishes its staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, is subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position(s).

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.