AI:X is an ambitious initiative at Aalborg University that aims to advance AI research and create real-world impact through interdisciplinary collaboration, and nine labs will be initiated in 2026 with a total of 18 PhD stipends.

The AI:INFRA Lab is part of the AI:X initiative with two PhD stipends and is a collaboration between the Department of Materials and Production, the Faculty of Engineering and Science and the Department of Culture and Communication, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

AI:INFRA works on using artificial intelligence to build and run important systems like energy, water, and communication in remote communities. These places often have very limited power, internet access, human and technical resources. The lab explores how AI can help communities run better with fewer resources, while still being reliable and fair. The goal is to develop smart technology that uses very little energy but gives real benefits to people.

The two stipends are open for appointment from 15 August 2026 or soon hereafter. Stipend 1 is a position at Aalborg University’s campus in Aalborg, while stipend 2 is a position at the campus in Copenhagen. The duration of both positions is three years.

Your work tasks
The lab is looking for candidates for the following two stipends:

Stipend 1: Energy-Efficient AI Systems for Intelligent Workforce Support in Resource-Constrained Environments.
Supervised by: Associate Professor Chen Li, Department of Materials and Production.

This PhD position focuses on developing energy-efficient AI frameworks that can operate effectively within resource constraints while maintaining intelligent capabilities. You will design and implement lightweight multimodal AI systems for context-aware assistants supporting workforce development in remote communities. Your research will explore how to optimize AI architectures to function on edge devices with limited computational power and energy budgets, balancing performance with sustainability. You will develop frameworks for intelligent human-robot interaction that can provide personalized support without requiring continuous cloud connectivity, collaborating closely with the second PhD student to ensure technical solutions address genuine infrastructure challenges identified through ethnographic research. The position offers opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies in AI models and real-time interaction systems while contributing to meaningful societal impact in underserved communities.

Stipend 2: Ethnographic Exploration of AI Opportunities in Arctic Infrastructure Development.
Supervised by: Associate Professor Mette Simonsen Abildgaard, Department of Culture and Communication.

This PhD position focuses on exploring where and how AI can provide improvements to infrastructure development in Arctic remote communities, focusing on Greenland. You will conduct ethnographic fieldwork to understand infrastructure challenges across the complete lifecycle from planning through deployment to long-term operations, working closely with community stakeholders in participatory processes to identify bottlenecks, dilemmas and opportunities where AI could genuinely improve outcomes. You will follow and document the often-invisible work that AI implementations create (monitoring, local maintenance and coordination), assessing who takes on these tasks and how they affect capacity and long‑term sustainability. Your research will develop a comprehensive framework that maps specific AI applications to concrete infrastructure challenges, ensuring proposed solutions address real problems rather than creating technology in search of applications. You will collaborate with the second PhD student who develops the technical AI frameworks, ensuring identified opportunities can be realistically implemented within severe energy constraints, as well as limited technical and human resources. The position requires knowledge of ethnographic and participatory research methods, interest in science and technology studies and sufficient technical understanding to assess AI feasibility, offering a unique opportunity to bridge infrastructure studies and artificial intelligence research while contributing to sustainable development in underserved regions.

Your competencies
We are seeking curious and motivated researchers who are passionate about using AI to address real-world challenges in resource constrainted remote communities. You should be excited about working at the intersection of technology and society, with genuine interest in ensuring that AI development serves community needs rather than purely technical goals.

For both positions, you should demonstrate strong analytical thinking and the ability to approach complex problems systematically. You will be working in a highly interdisciplinary environment, so openness to learning from different research traditions and comfort with ambiguity are essential.

We value candidates who can communicate effectively across disciplinary boundaries, translating between technical concepts and social contexts, and who show initiative in driving their research forward while remaining responsive to collaborative needs.

You should be comfortable with both independent work and close collaboration, as the two PhD positions are designed to complement each other throughout the research process. The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and work creatively within constraints will be particularly valuable given the focus on resource-limited environments.

We also value candidates who demonstrate cultural sensitivity and genuine curiosity and respect and for the communities we aim to serve, recognizing that sustainable solutions must be grounded in local knowledge and priorities.

Qualification requirements

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science (Stipend 1) or the Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Humanities (Stipend 2) in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19, 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions.

According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. As part of the PhD study, you are among other things required to complete PhD courses corresponding to 30 ECTS, gain experience with teaching or other forms of knowledge dissemination and complete an external research stay outside of Aalborg University, preferably 3-6 months at a foreign research institution.

Who we are
The AI:INFRA Lab brings together complementary expertise from two departments at Aalborg University. Associate Professor Chen Li from the Department of Materials and Production leads research in natural language processing, multimodal artificial intelligence and human-robot interaction. His work focuses on developing intelligent systems that can understand and respond to human needs in real-time. Associate Professor in Arctic Technology Studies Mette Simonsen Abildgaard contributes infrastructure scholarship grounded in ethnography and science and technology studies, examining how infrastructural systems shape everyday life in remote Arctic communities.

The lab operates within the AI:X initiative, which fosters collaboration across Aalborg University's research strengths in artificial intelligence. You will join a dynamic research environment with access to state-of-the-art facilities (e.g., AAU 5G Smart Production Lab), strong international networks, and opportunities for fieldwork in Arctic communities. The AI:INFRA is positioned across the Aalborg University campus in Aalborg (stipend 1) and the Copenhagen campus (stipend 2), with close hybrid collaboration between the two. The interdisciplinary nature of the lab also means you will work closely with researchers from both engineering and social sciences, participating in regular lab meetings, workshops, and collaborative research activities.

Both supervisors are committed to supporting your professional development throughout your PhD journey, providing mentorship in research methodology, academic writing, and career planning. The lab maintains active collaborations with organizations in Greenland, industry partners, and international research institutions, offering opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange that will enhance your research and future career prospects.

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

• Application, stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position
  
  
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  
  
• Diplomas (bachelor's and master's degree diploma, including grades)
  Project description containing the research project title, an outline of the course of study and a description of the overall problem areas (approx. 8 pages, 1 page = 2400 typing units). The project description should clearly indicate which stipend (1 or 2) you are applying for and how your proposed research aligns with the lab's objectives.
  
  
• If you are applying for Stipend 1: Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required. Proficiency in Danish and Greenlandic is an advantage.
  
  
• If you are applying for Stipend 2: Applicants who are planning to complete a doctoral thesis in English and who do not have English as a first language or who have not completed an English language-based Master's programme (or an equivalent educational achievement in English) shall provide documentation that they have passed one of the following official tests with the respective minimum score: IELTS (band score): 7, TOEFL (paper-based): 600, TOEFL (internet-based): 100. The language test must be no more than five years old at the time of the application. Further, fluency in Danish and Greenlandic is an advantage.
  
  
• If you are applying for Stipend 2: Applicants must have achieved the grade 10 or above in the Danish grading system (or the equivalent in a different grading system) for their Master's Thesis/final exam. The PhD candidate may be exempted from the grade requirement, if he/she is able to provide other forms of documentation of his/her qualifications.
  
  
• Other relevant documents

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

If you are applying for Stipend 1: Interviews will be held in late April or the beginning of May.

If you are applying for Stipend 2: Interviews will be held May 18th.

Further information
Read more about our recruitment process here.

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.
(stipend 2)

Read more about The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science(stipend 1)

Read more about The Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Humanities (stipend 2)

Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (in Danish)

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.