W2-Professorship of Cognitive Robotics and Autonomous Systems

IT-S TIME TO GROW. Join our university in the Faculty of Computer Science and Automation: W2-Professorship of Cognitive Robotics and Autonomous Systems starting winter term 2027/28 | campus Lemgo | permanent position | full-time For the first three years, this professorship will be established as a transfer professorship with a reduced teaching load to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer – specifically for working on transfer-related topics and collaborating with industry or a non-university research institution (e.g., Fraunhofer). After these three years, the transfer professorship will transition into a regular professorship. We are OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts. In Lemgo, Detmold and Höxter we develop around 5,700 students: personally, professionally and future-orientated. We foster interdisciplinary exchange and benefit from cooperative structures. This is how we actively shape our appreciative working and educational environment at all locations. Strong institutes and international networks bring our innovations from application-oriented research to the dynamic economic region of East Westphalia-Lippe – and far beyond.

Your Responsibilities

• You will teach in the subject area of learning, adaptive robotic systems and in general of autonomous systems, using a research-oriented and practice-based approach.
• You teach modern software and AI methods and bridge the gap between theory and industrial application.
• You are actively involved in organizing fundamental courses of computer science.
• You have a strong desire to be on campus and present for your students.
• Up to 25 % of your teaching can be provided as digital teaching, if required, to enable cross-location lectures.
• You are prepared to conduct courses in German as well as in English.
• You will promote interdisciplinary study formats, e.g., through practical student projects.
• You will conduct research in the field of modular, AI-driven system and software architectures using modern software engineering methods (e.g., model-based approaches, DevOps for robotics) and combine knowledge-based planning with data-driven learning techniques.
• A key focus is on methods of ensuring the safety, validation and explainability of autonomous systems.
• You have strong interest in innovative communication formats which encourage the dialog between science and society.
• You will shape and implement innovative and attractive study profiles for robotics and autonomous systems within the bachelor-s and master-s degree programs of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.
• You leverage and strengthen the personnel connection to the Fraunhofer IOSB-INA to create strategic synergies in research, development, transfer and teaching, as well as to actively shape the local ecosystem in the field of smart automation.
• You support young scientists by initiating joint cross-institutional projects.
• You will contribute to university-s internal committee work in a collegial manner and participate actively in expanding cooperation relationships with domestic and foreign universities.

Your Profile

• You have proven experience in handling real robot hardware and software as well as relevant robotics software platforms (e.g., ROS 2).
• experience in the application and further development of robot learning methods (including reinforcement learning, imitation learning, sim-to-real-transfer) as well as of foundation models (e.g., LLMs, VLMs, action models) for the perception, planning and execution in closed action loops under real-time requirements.
• experience in university teaching and in supervising theses and dissertations proven experience in the acquisition of competitive third-party funding and in technology transfer at the interface with industry.
• In addition, you fulfil the requirements of § 36 Hochschulgesetz NRW and have: a completed qualified university degree in computer science or a comparable field of study a successfully completed doctorate degree in computer science or a related field relevant professional experience (at least five years, at least three of which gained outside the university sector) as an exceptional alternative to the required non-academic professional experience of three years beyond the doctorate, additional academic achievements in combination with proven transfer- and industry-oriented collaborative research activities
• Furthermore, you should also have a very good publication profile at relevant international conferences and in journals (e.g., ICRA, IROS, RA-L, IEEE T-RO) demonstrable involvement in national or international research networks and open source communities (e.g., ROS).

We Offer

• a lively, interdisciplinary and future-oriented environment for your ideas in teaching, research and transfer
• supportive balance between your career and your personal life
• personalised onboarding and support for new appointees at the start of their university career
• ongoing comprehensive further training opportunities – professional, didactic and personal
• a strong network of external partners in the down-to‑earth and economically strong region of East Westphalia‑Lippe
• a high quality of life thanks to a wide range of cultural, sporting and recreational activities in the region of Teutoburg Forest

OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts represents the principle of quality through diversity and wishes to increase the proportion of women among its scientific staff.

In case of equal qualification, severely handicapped applicants will be given priority.