PhD Position in Deep Learning for Acoustic Sensor Fusion on Intelligent Vehicles

Join us to develop deep learning techniques for fusing acoustic sensor data with other vehicle sensors for robust multi-modal environment perception. Help shape the future of autonomous driving In this project you will develop novel AI and Deep Learning techniques for traffic detection using vehicle-mounted microphones, enhancing the perception capabilities of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Automated Vehicles (AVs) beyond traditional camera, radar, and lidar sensors. Your research will explore new use cases of acoustic perception for advanced automated driving systems, and new methods for fusing sound with other sensor data for more robust environment perception through deep learning. We offer a fully-funded 4-year PhD position at theIntelligent Vehicles Groupin theCognitive Robotics departmentof TU Delft. Your primary supervisor will beDr. At the Intelligent Vehicles Group you'll find an open and friendly environment, with opportunities for professional development and training to successfully develop your academic skills. We have a collaborative culture regarding research, education, and use of lab resources. In addition, you will have regular progress meetings with experts from NXP’s Audio Innovation Centre. Research challenges You will improve on state-of-the-art deep learning techniques for multi-sensor environment perception in autonomous driving by integrating acoustics. Possible research directions include the use of audio-visual foundation models, audio-driven sensor fusion for object detection, cross-modal representation learning, and self-supervised learning for this novel perception task. The developed models should provide holistic representations of all surrounding traffic by fusing multi-microphone data with other sensor modalities. A unique asset is the IV group’s Prius demonstrator vehicle with cameras, lidars, radars, and a roof-mounted microphone array. It provides you unique multi-sensor data to investigate and demonstrate how acoustics can improve vehicle perception tasks, for which you collaborate with another PhD candidate in this project. Together with other researchers in the IV group, you help develop and maintain the software for this shared demonstrator vehicle. Completed (or about to complete) a MSc degree related to any of: artificial intelligence, machine learning, intelligent vehicles / robotics, acoustics and signal processing, computer vision. Demonstratable experience in applying Deep Learning, using PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX on real-world sensor data. Experience with robotic/vehicle perception tasks with computer vision, lidar or radar. Ability to act independently as well as to collaborate effectively with members of a larger interdisciplinary team, take initiative, be result oriented, organized and creative. Excellent programming skills (Python, possibly also C/C++). Good command of verbal and written English. TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our corevaluesand we activelyengageto be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. Your application will receive fair consideration. Faculty Mechanical Engineering From chip to ship. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems. ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation. Clickhereto go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Thesevideoswill introduce you to some of our researchers and their work. Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities , increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? The HR unit,Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. ADual Career Programmeis available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. Application procedure Please apply no later than 18 January 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:A complete record of Bachelor and Master courses (including grades). Your Master’s Thesis (at least as draft). You can address your application to Julian Kooij. Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check theGraduate Schools Admission Requirements. You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest.