A PhD position is available in the area of robotics, automation, and sensing, with a focus on next generation drone operations in agriculture at the Department of Department of Mechanical engineering and technology management at the Faculty of Science and Technology.
The PhD position is for a period of 3 years, with a desired start date of 1st of September 2026.
The robotics group at NMBU conducts research in two key areas: (1) mobile robotics for agriculture, and (2) manufacturing and food processing. This PhD position falls within the first area, targeting the design, implementation and field deployment of an autonomous drone solutions for agricultural applications, including crop spraying, monitoring and precision farming tasks.
This position is not tied to a specific R&D project, giving the candidate freedom to define a focused research topic within autonomy, robotics, and agricultural drones. Within this broader scope, the candidate may explore several interconnected research directions aimed at developing advanced autonomous and robotic solutions to support next-generation drone operations in agriculture, addressing current limitations in endurance, efficiency, scalability, and safety.
The position targets innovative methods that enable drones to operate more effectively across large agricultural areas while reducing the need for manual intervention. Key research directions include:
Agricultural drones show great potential for field treatment and monitoring, yet practical deployment is often restricted by operational interruptions, limited flight range, and manual handling requirements. This research direction investigates concepts and enabling technologies that enhance mission continuity, reduce downtime, and improve overall task efficiency. Topics may include autonomous mission planning, resource-aware scheduling, multi-drone coordination, optimization-based decision-making, and integration of robotic subsystems that support extended operations.
Reliable drone operation in agricultural environments requires robust sensing, perception, and control capabilities. The candidate may work on advanced multimodal sensor fusion, environmental perception, field-aware localization, precision navigation, and interaction with ground-based robotic or stationary systems. Emphasis is placed on developing algorithms and system architectures that increase robustness and autonomy under real-world conditions.
Certain agricultural tasks—particularly those involving chemicals or repetitive manual handling—pose exposure risks to workers and drone operators. This research direction focuses on robotics and automation strategies that enhance operator safety by reducing direct human involvement in hazardous or labor-intensive processes. This may involve automated support systems, intelligent interfaces, collaborative robotic mechanisms, or safety-driven system design applicable to drone deployment workflows.
Salary in position as PhD Research Fellow, position code 1017, 550 800 NOK. For exceptionally well qualified candidates a higher salary may be considered.
By applying, the candidate confirms that information and documentation submitted via the job application may also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process to the PhD program. Admission to a PhD program is a prerequisite for appointment to the PhD position.
For professional and social interactions, the candidate is expected to be physically present at NMBU on a daily basis.
Employment is to be made in accordance with Regulations to the Universities and University Colleges Act and Regulations for the PhD degree at the Norwegian University of Life Science (NMBU) , and in accordance with the Civil Servant Act, the Security Act, and the Export Control Act.
For further information, please contact professor Ibrahim Abdelfattah Abdelhameed, e-mail: ibrahim.abdelhameed@nmbu.no.
Information for PhD applicants and general Information to applicants
Send application electronically via the link "Apply for this job" at the top of this page. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
Your CV must be entered in Jobbnorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is in order to be able to comply with the regulations to the Public Administration Act §15.
Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged. Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.
The following documents must be attached to the application:
The Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) develops research-based knowledge and educates civil engineers and lecturers needed to reach the UN's sustainability goals. We have approximately 150 employees, 70 PhD students and soon 1500 students. The education and research at REALTEK cover a broad spectrum of disciplines.
This includes data science, mechanics and process engineering, robotics, construction and architecture, industrial economics, environmental physics and renewable energy, geomatics, water and environmental engineering, applied mathematics as well as secondary school teacher education in natural sciences and use of natural resources such as in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. The workplace is in Ås, 30 km from Oslo.
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