Université de technologie de Compiègne, France
Heudiasyc Lab UMR UTC-CNRS 7253
Tenure as a CNRS Research Director will be awarded at the end of a 3 to 6-year fixed-term
contract, within the Heudiasyc laboratory hosted by Université de technologie de Compiègne.
The position offers resources from the French National Research Agency and access to state-
of-the-art experimental platforms, including autonomous vehicles, mini-ground robots, and
aerial drones, to drive advancements robotics, AI and autonomous systems.
Keywords
artificial intelligence, autonomous robots, intelligent vehicles, computer vision, multi-sensor fusion, control architectures, operational safety, trajectory planning, SLAM
Research activity description
This position aims to enhance the research activities of the CNRS and the Heudiasyc laboratory in the fields of robotics, automation, and AI for autonomous systems interacting with humans. Potential research directions include the development of novel control approaches for autonomous vehicles and robotics systems, equipped with “embedded intelligence”, enabling them to act reliably in unstructured and unpredictable environments. Addressing issues such as the design of new control approaches and architectures (including the development of observers-based model relying on available data), taking human factors in the control loop, the perception and understanding of situations in open and dynamic environments, managing uncertainties, and ensuring the integrity of the system and its environment, planning trajectories and spatial mapping (SLAM), are also major challenges that are relevant for this position.
The successful candidate is expected to lead research projects at both national and international levels and to mentor and supervise young researchers.
Teaching activity
The appointee will have the opportunity to teach in a new international ERASMUS MUNDUS master’s program led by UTC.
Candidate’s profile
Prospective candidates must hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field with a strong research profile and
substantial experience in the research area. This experience should result in a significant scientific track record in academia or industry.
Deadline for application
End of August 2026
Contract duration
A permanent CNRS research director position can be awarded within 6 years.
Research resources
The appointee will be funded by the French National Agency of Research (ANR) for financing initial thesis or postdoc projects. Besides scientific support, the laboratory will also provide technical support and access to its experimental platforms, including three full-size autonomous vehicles, mini-ground robots, and aerial drones with dedicated test tracks. The candidate will also have the opportunity to engage with the laboratory’s industrial and academic partners at both the national and European levels.
Application and contacts
Interested candidates should send a Curriculum Vitae and a list of publications accompanied along with a short cover letter to veronique.cherfaoui@hds.utc.fr
