Openings

I will join the Department of Computer Science at Texas Tech University as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2026. I am actively recruiting several PhD students to join my group starting in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027.

If you are interested in working with me, please read my Research Statement first before reaching out.

Research Areas

My group works at the intersection of AI, robotics, and cyber-physical systems, with a focus on cross-layer co-design of models, runtime systems, sensing/perception pipelines, and computing platforms for mission-critical autonomy. You will have the opportunity to work on real, practical robotic platforms, including several examples shown below.

Research Platforms

Topics of interest include:

  • Foundation Models for Autonomy
    • Perception, reasoning, and decision-making for AI-enabled autonomy in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and drones
  • Computing Systems for Robotics
    • Real-time, efficient, and scalable systems support for autonomous intelligence across device, edge, and cloud
  • Physics Intelligence
    • Physics-aware and safety-conscious autonomy for robust cyber-physical systems, including AVs, off-road platforms, AR/VR, and other emerging applications

Prospective Students

What I look for:

  • Background on Robotics, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Computer Engineering
  • Programming skills (Python, ROS)
  • Passion for research and robotics

Fully-funded RA positions with competitive stipend and tuition waiver are available.

Apply via Google Form

Or email your CV, transcripts, and research statement to liangkai@umich.edu