PhD on Safe Generative Models for Control via Differential Geometry and Control Theory

PhD on Safe Generative Models for Control via Differential Geometry and Control Theory – AI4IDeadline: December 17th 2025 at 12 (noon – CET)Autonomous Systems (CODE 11658), Topic number 1Hosting Institution: AI4I – The Italian Institute of Artificial IntelligenceDepartment: PHI LabFunding Scheme: Fully funded by AI4I in collaboration with Università degli Studi di GenovaPosition DescriptionThe Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI4I) , in collaboration with Università degli Studi di Genova , invites applications for a PhD position in Safe Generative Models as part of the PhD Programme in Autonomous Systems . Control theory provides principled mechanisms such as stability certificates or control barriers that can be leveraged to control and guide the generalization behaviour of generative models. When trained, such models can capture the underlying geometry of the data, but they may also be trained on data that are intrinsically non‑Euclidean or that belong to dynamical systems with specific geometric properties. The first goal will be to integrate control‑theoretic principles to guarantee safety, stability, and predictable generalization of generative models. The second objective will leverage differential geometry to understand what the models learn, how they generalize, and consequently design safety guarantees that leverage the geometry of the data and the generative model. The developed methods will be applied in robotic manipulation for contact‑rich tasks, human‑robot collaboration settings, control of physical systems, among others.RequirementsExcellent Masters degree in computer science, physics, mathematics, electrical or mechatronics engineering, or a related fieldStrong background in machine learning and roboticsGood programming skills in PythonFluent in spoken and written EnglishA team player, but also able to work autonomouslyExperience with scientific writingGood to have: background on (applied) differential geometryGood to have: publication of peer‑reviewed research papersReferencesH. Beik‑Mohammadi, et al. “Extended Neural Contractive Dynamical Systems: On multiple tasks and Riemannian Safety Regions”. IJRR, 2025.Number of Positions Available1Application DocumentsOne-page cover letter including a short (two-paragraph) research proposal related to the PhD topic and aligned with your professional interests.Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas with transcripts and grades.Main Research SiteAI4I – The Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence for IndustryWhat We OfferAccess 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.Financial support for attending international conference and Winter/Summer schools.Start Date1st March 2026How to ApplyPlease apply via the university’s official PhD admissions portal:For More InformationAI4IAI4I – The Italian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence has been founded to perform transformative, application-oriented research in Artificial Intelligence. AI4I is set to engage and empower gifted, entrepreneurial, young researchers who commit to producing an impact at the intersection of science, innovation, and industrial transformation. Highly competitive pay, bonus incentives, access to dedicated high-performance computing, state-of-the-art laboratories, industrial collaborations, and an ecosystem tailored to support the initiation and growth of startups stand out as some of the distinctive features of AI4I, bringing together people in a dynamic international environment. AI4I is an institute that aims to enhance scientific research, technological