Supervisors: James Hermus, PhD (Idiap/EPFL); Sylvain Calinon, PhD (Idiap); and Prof. Auke Ijspeert (EPFL)
Location: Idiap Research Institute, Martigny, Switzerland
Start date: September 2026 (flexible)

About the project

We are seeking a PhD student to join a new research project on human motor control and robotic manipulation, funded by an SNSF Ambizione grant led by James Hermus.

The goal of the project is to investigate how humans regulate impedance during physical interaction, and how these principles can inspire robotic control and learning algorithms. This position bridges neuroscience, control theory, and robot learning—combining human experiments, computational modeling, and robotic implementation.

The student will be based at the Idiap Research Institute (Martigny, Switzerland), as part of the Robot Learning & Interaction Group (Sylvain Calinon, PhD) and collaborate with the BioRobotics Laboratory (Prof. Auke Ijspeert) at EPFL.

Overview of Ambizione project: human motor control and robotic manipulation

Overview of the SNSF Ambizione project on human motor control and robotic manipulation.

Candidate profile

Master’s degree in robotics, mechanical/electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field
Strong background in control systems, robotics, or machine learning, and solid mathematical foundations
Interest in human motor control, physical interaction, and neuroscience-inspired robotics

Environment

The Idiap Research Institute is an independent, non-profit research foundation affiliated with EPFL, located in the Swiss Alps. Idiap offers a vibrant international research environment. PhD students are formally registered at EPFL one of the leading Institutes of Technology in Europe that offers extremely competitive salaries and research infrastructure.

How to apply

Step 1 – Apply to a relevant EPFL doctoral program (typically EDRS – Robotics, Control, and Intelligent Systems).
See phd.epfl.ch for details and deadlines.

Step 2 – In parallel (or once admitted), email your application materials to James Hermus (james.hermus@idiap.ch).

James also welcomes informal email inquiries about the position.

Master’s projects and pathway to PhD

If you are a current Master’s student interested in a semester project, Master’s thesis, or a visiting/internship project related to this topic, please contact James Hermus at james.hermus@idiap.ch.

We especially welcome students who are interested in continuing to a PhD after a successful Master’s or visiting project.