PhD Student in (multi-agent) reinforcement learning for health-aware control

EPFL seeks a PhD researcher to develop multi-agent reinforcement learning methods for health-aware control of complex engineering systems within the IMOS Lab.

This position is based in the Intelligent Maintenance and Operations Systems (IMOS) Lab at EPFL and is funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant. The role focuses on creating new techniques that use reinforcement learning to manage the health and degradation of engineering assets, balancing immediate performance with long-term reliability.

Responsibilities

• Create new approaches using multi-agent reinforcement learning to control systems while monitoring their health status.
• Investigate how agents can derive control policies that respect physical limits, operational goals, and the effects of aging.
• Merge physics-based models with data-driven methods to ensure that learned strategies are efficient and align with real-world system dynamics.
• Test and apply these research findings to large-scale industrial and energy infrastructure, such as wind turbines.

Requirements

• Hold an excellent Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Control, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrate strong analytical capabilities.
• Possess a solid understanding of both machine learning and control theory.
• Communicate fluently in English, both in writing and speech.
• Be self-motivated, capable of solving complex problems, and able to think creatively.

Nice to have

• Prior experience with reinforcement learning, optimization techniques, or dynamical systems.
• Familiarity with deep learning, signal processing, or physics-informed modeling.

What the company offers

• Full-time employment based in Lausanne.
• A fixed-term contract starting at one year, renewable up to a maximum of six years.
• Highly competitive compensation packages.
• Access to one of Europe’s most vibrant university campuses.
• An interdisciplinary scientific setting that encourages collaboration across projects and with other researchers.
• Strong connections with industrial partners and top international universities.

About the company

EPFL is recognized as one of the leading universities globally, ranking within the top twenty worldwide. The institution fosters an environment dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and technological innovation.

• The IMOS Lab specializes in pioneering research into intelligent maintenance and health-aware control for complex systems.
• The university maintains a reputation for excellence and attracts top-tier talent from around the world.

How to apply

Documents to submit:

• Letter of motivation
• CV
• Research statement
• Transcripts
• Publication

Application language: English