UQ–TIET Joint PhD Opportunity | January 2026 Intake
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SACHIN KANSAL
Nov 27, 2025, 1:34:51 PM (4 days ago) Nov 27
to ranarese...@googlegroups.com
Dear All,
We
are excited to announce a new Joint PhD project under the University of
Queensland (UQ) and Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
(TIET) collaboration:
"RL-based Quadruped and Biped Locomotion for Adaptive Robotic Control "
Supervisors:
Prof. Pauline Pounds (UQ) — pauline...@uq.edu.au [Profile Link: https://lnkd.in/gdN8Sfr4]
Dr. Sachin Kansal (TIET) — sachin...@thapar.edu [Profile Link: https://lnkd.in/gYi7UDNT]
About the Project:
This project will explore Reinforcement Learning (RL) frameworks for developing robust locomotion control policies in quadruped and biped robots. Unlike traditional model-based gait controllers, RL enables robots to autonomously learn balance, stability, and agility through reward-based exploration in simulated and real-world environments. The aim is to design adaptive, energy-efficient locomotion behaviours that generalise across varying terrains and perturbations.
What the research will explore:
* Develop RL-driven locomotion policies for stable, efficient movement in quadruped and biped robots.
* Achieve adaptive gait control that reacts to varying terrains, speed demands, and external disturbances.
* Address sim-to-real transfer using domain randomization and real-time policy adaptation for deployment on actual robots.
* Integrate multimodal sensing (IMU, vision, joint feedback) to enable environment-aware, self-recovering locomotion.
Why Join This Joint PhD?
* Dual degree from UQ (Australia) & TIET (India)
* 3 years at TIET + 1 year at UQ under joint supervision
* Cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in Robotics, Computer Science, and
Machine Learning
* Part of the global TIET–UQ Centre of Excellence in Data Science & AI (CoDSaI)
If you are passionate about Robotics, Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning, and Locomotion, this project offers a unique opportunity to create real-world impact.
"RL-based Quadruped and Biped Locomotion for Adaptive Robotic Control "
Supervisors:
Prof. Pauline Pounds (UQ) — pauline...@uq.edu.au [Profile Link: https://lnkd.in/gdN8Sfr4]
Dr. Sachin Kansal (TIET) — sachin...@thapar.edu [Profile Link: https://lnkd.in/gYi7UDNT]
About the Project:
This project will explore Reinforcement Learning (RL) frameworks for developing robust locomotion control policies in quadruped and biped robots. Unlike traditional model-based gait controllers, RL enables robots to autonomously learn balance, stability, and agility through reward-based exploration in simulated and real-world environments. The aim is to design adaptive, energy-efficient locomotion behaviours that generalise across varying terrains and perturbations.
What the research will explore:
* Develop RL-driven locomotion policies for stable, efficient movement in quadruped and biped robots.
* Achieve adaptive gait control that reacts to varying terrains, speed demands, and external disturbances.
* Address sim-to-real transfer using domain randomization and real-time policy adaptation for deployment on actual robots.
* Integrate multimodal sensing (IMU, vision, joint feedback) to enable environment-aware, self-recovering locomotion.
Why Join This Joint PhD?
* Dual degree from UQ (Australia) & TIET (India)
* 3 years at TIET + 1 year at UQ under joint supervision
* Cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in Robotics, Computer Science, and
Machine Learning
* Part of the global TIET–UQ Centre of Excellence in Data Science & AI (CoDSaI)
If you are passionate about Robotics, Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning, and Locomotion, this project offers a unique opportunity to create real-world impact.
📩 Applications for the Joint PhD Programme are now open!
🔗 Apply Now: https://lnkd.in/gNr2Z5Fa
Thanks & Regards
Dr. Sachin Kansal (PostDoc Fellow@ Univ. of Birmingham, UK, Ph.D.@ IIT Delhi)
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science Engineering
Coordinator
TIET-UoQ Center of Excellence in Data Science and AI (CoDSaI)
Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
(Deemed to be University) Patiala - 147004
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