PhD on Formal analysis and control of multi-agent cyber-physical systems

SiyuanLiu

Dear colleagues,

The Control Systems Group at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is looking for a highly motivated PhD student to join our research team for a project focused on developing novel methodologies for the formal analysis and control of multi-agent cyber-physical systems (CPS). The project integrates techniques from control theory, formal methods, and multi-agent planning to address key challenges in the design of intelligent autonomous systems operating in dynamic and uncertain environments.

Job description:
Our modern society increasingly relies on complex multi-agent CPS –such as smart transportation networks, implantable medical devices, and intelligent power grids– where networked platforms seamlessly integrate discrete computation with continuous physical control processes. As these systems grow in scale and interconnectivity, they must satisfy high-level spatio-temporal specifications while ensuring safety, security, and functional reliability within intricate infrastructures. Failures in design or implementation can compromise trust, privacy, and economic interests of the society built upon them.
The primary focus of this project is to develop novel distributed planning and control approaches for multi-agent CPS, in which each agent adaptively makes decisions by taking into account the interactions with other agents as well as environmental uncertainties. The considered multi-agent systems are subject to high-level requirements expressed through formal languages, such as linear temporal logics and spatio-temporal logics, with additional emphasis on security considerations. The doctoral student will develop novel planning and control approaches to address these requirements, enabling complex multi-agent CPS to be secure-by-design and capable of intelligent decision-making, even under uncertainties. The student will also assist in the integration and experimental evaluation of the proposed techniques. These developments will contribute to the resilience, autonomy, and intelligence of real-world autonomous systems.
The position includes contributing to the educational programs in which the Control Systems group is active.

Job Requirements:

A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Engineering Sciences, Mathematics, or Physics.
A research-oriented attitude.
Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interested in collaborating with industrial partners.
Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

The ideal candidate is preferred to meet the following criteria:

Solid background in control theory or a related field
Strong skills in mathematical modeling and algorithm implementation
Familiarity with formal methods, or experience in robotics and real-world implementation, will be highly valued

If you're passionate about control systems theory, autonomy, and formal methods, or know someone who might be interested, feel free to reach out or share this opportunity. We look forward to your application and welcoming you to our research team!

📍The formal add with instructions on how to apply can be found on the TU/e website:
https://www.tue.nl/en/working-at-tue/vacancy-overview/phd-on-formal-analysis-and-control-of-multi-agent-cyber-physical-systems
The position will remain open until satisfactory candidates are found.

Contact: Siyuan Liu (Email: siyliu@kth.se)

authore

A PhD in Formal Analysis and Control of Multi-Agent Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) is a highly interdisciplinary research program that blends control theory, formal methods, computer science, and systems engineering. The goal is to develop rigorous techniques to model, analyze, verify, and control systems composed of multiple interacting agents—each with physical and computational components.

🔍 Core Research Areas
Formal Methods
Use of mathematically rigorous languages and tools (e.g., temporal logic, model checking, theorem proving) to specify and verify system behaviors and safety properties.

Multi-Agent Systems (MAS)
Study of distributed systems with multiple autonomous agents (robots, drones, vehicles, etc.) that coordinate, cooperate, or compete to achieve system-wide goals.

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)
Integration of computation, networking, and physical processes. Agents in CPS interact with the environment and each other via sensors and actuators.

Control Theory
Designing feedback control laws to ensure agents behave in desired ways while respecting physical dynamics and constraints.

Distributed and Decentralized Control
Developing control strategies where agents make decisions locally with limited information, but global behavior still satisfies performance or safety objectives.

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