PhD/Postdoc Position for Safe Artificial Intelligence for Maritime Engines

14.11.2025, Wissenschaftliches Personal

The research group Cyber-Physical Systems of Prof. Matthias Althoff at the Technical University of Munich offers a PhD/Postdoc position in the area of safe artificial intelligence for maritime engines. The Technical University of Munich is one of the top research universities in Europe fostering a strong entrepreneurial spirit and international culture.

Expected Starting Date: February 2026 - May 2026

Closing Date for Applicants: 05 January 2026

Duration: 3 years with a possible extension (individual duration for Postdocs).

Project and Job Description

Integrating artificial intelligence into maritime engines powered by alternative fuels like hydrogen significantly enhances operational efficiency and reduces emissions. AI systems can continuously analyze real-time data—such as engine load, fuel flow, and environmental conditions—to optimize combustion and propulsion strategies. This dynamic adjustment ensures that hydrogen, with its unique properties like high flame speed and low ignition energy, is used as efficiently as possible. As a result, vessels can achieve lower fuel consumption and drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with global decarbonization goals set by the International Maritime Organization. Moreover, AI can simulate and evaluate countless operational scenarios, helping ship operators make informed decisions that balance performance with sustainability.

Equally important, AI helps ensure that hydrogen-fueled engines operate within the strict physical and mechanical constraints inherent to maritime propulsion systems. Hydrogen poses challenges such as pre-ignition risks, material compatibility, and storage under high pressure. To address these challenges, we will develop novel techniques for provably safe reinforcement learning. This project is conducted in close collaboration with Everllence (formally known as MAN Energy Solutions). The developed methods have to be tested in simulation and on real engines.

Previous Work

https://openreview.net/pdf/264ffa19ca70e3ec41032fe6a4802932b5eda4e6.pdf
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10068193

Job Specifications

• For PhD applicants: Excellent Master’s degree (or equivalent) in computer science, engineering, or related disciplines (typically mathematics, physics).
• For Postdoc applicants: Excellent track record in computer science or engineering.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.
• Proficient in at least one programming language, e.g. MATLAB, C/C++, Python.
• Highly motivated and keen on working in an international and interdisciplinary team.
• Applicants with strong background in the following fields are preferred:
  • Machine Learning
  • Formal Methods
  • Dynamical Systems
  • Control Theory

Context

The applicant will be directly advised by Prof. Matthias Althoff (https://www.ce.cit.tum.de/cps/members/prof-dr-ing-matthias-althoff/). Besides excellent skills for conducting innovative science, the candidate should also be talented in implementing research results on a real ship and lead teams of students.

Our Offer

PhD remuneration will be in line with the current German collective pay agreement TV-L E13 (around 4600 Euros/month in the first year, 4900 Euros/month second year). The Technical University of Munich is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity. We explicitly encourage women to apply and preference will be given to disabled applicants with equivalent qualifications.

Contact

International candidates are highly encouraged to apply. Please submit your complete application (in English or German) via our application form: https://wiki.tum.de/display/cpsforms/Ph.D.+Application. Fill out all mandatory fields (*) and kindly use “Safe AI for Maritime Engines” as the “Title of Position”. Please do not include a cover letter. Further similar job offerings will be announced on https://www.ce.cit.tum.de/cps/open-positions/.

Kontakt: sebi.mair@tum.de