Piliečių mokslo centro vadovė dr. Monika Mačiulienė: mokslininkų ir visuomenės bendradarbiavimas taps pažangos varikliu

Įvyko pirmasis į VILNIUS TECH šiais metais įstojusių doktorantų susitikimas, tapęs ne tik proga susipažinti su nauju studijų etapu, bet ir išgirsti keletą paprastų, tačiau svarbių patarimų, galinčių praversti per visus ketverius doktorantūros metus. Sveikindamas naujuosius doktorantus, Mokslo ir inovacijų prorektorius prof. dr. Dalius Navakauskas linkėjo nebijoti išbandyti naujų dalykų ir neapsiriboti vien tuo, kas tiesiogiai susiję su disertacijos tema. Projektai, bendradarbiavimas su kitų sričių tyrėjais ar naujos veiklos gali tapti galimybe išmokti dirbti komandoje, įgyti naujų kompetencijų ir geriau suprasti, kokį kelią norisi rinktis ateityje. Prorektorius taip pat ragino doktorantus neapsiriboti savo aplinka ir bendrauti su kolegomis iš kitų šalių, naudotis universiteto turima ir vis atnaujinama infrastruktūra, išbandyti save pedagoginėje veikloje, ir, kas labai svarbu studijų kelyje, – nepabijoti prašyti pagalbos. Savo kalbą prorektorius baigė įkvepiančia JAV lengvaatlečio Jim'o Ryun'o citata: „Motyvacija yra tai, kas jus paskatina pradėti. O įprotis yra tai, kas jums neleidžia sustoti.“ Tuo metu Doktorantūros mokyklos direktorė doc. dr. Skirmantė Mozūriūnaitė pasidalino praktiniais patarimais, praversiančiais kiekvienam studentui: visų pirma, neatidėlioti reikalų iki paskutinės minutės ir laiku spręsti kylančius iššūkius, užsirašyti mintis bei idėjas vos tik joms kilus, kad šios nepasimirštų. Taip pat – atsiradus kitiems įsipareigojimams, studijų nenukelti į ateitį, kadangi universitetas siūlo puikias galimybes derinti mokslus su kasdieniniu gyvenimu. Dar vienas svarbus patarimas –  aktyviai bendrauti tarpusavyje, megzti kontaktus ir kurti tarpdisciplininius ryšius, kurie šiuolaikiniame moksle tampa vis svarbesni. Šiemet VILNIUS TECH doktorantūros studijas pradeda 49 nauji doktorantai, tarp jų – ir 10 užsienio studentai, o penki – laimėję vietas LMT. Šiais metais buvo laimėtos trys podoktarantūros (post-doctoral) LMT vietos. Nuo sausio mėnesio iki rugsėjo vidurio įvyko 26 gynimai, o šiais kalendoriniais metais planuojami iš viso 34 gynimai. Nuo sausio mėnesio iki rugsėjo vidurio buvo atliktos 107 trumpalaikės ir ilgalaikės išvykos.

Location: SustAInLivWork Centre of Excellence (CoE) (Artificial Intelligence Excellence Centre at Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania). The role requires on-site presence at KTU, with the possibility of partial remote work Reports to: Project expert acting as Head of the AI Research HUB of SustAInLivWork Centre of Excellence (CoE). Contract type: Project-based contract until 31 August 2029. Remuneration package: 40.03 EUR per hour (Gross income (in Lithuanian, BRUTO) is the amount of salary or wages paid to an individual by an employer before any deductions are taken) Application start date: 02 September 2026 MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Provide scientific leadership in AI for intelligent transport systems, smart mobility, and logistics; Initiate and lead research, experimental development, and innovation (R&D/I) projects, including industry-driven projects, Horizon Europe, and other national/international programmes; Develop and apply advanced AI solutions for logistic, transport and mobility systems, including predictive analytics, real-time decision-making, and autonomous or semi-autonomous systems; Lead interdisciplinary collaboration between AI experts, transport engineers, and domain specialists in mobility and logistics; Establish and strengthen collaborations with transport operators, logistics companies, public authorities, and international research institutions; Ensure high-quality scientific output, including Q1 publications, datasets, open-source tools, prototypes, and demonstrators; Supervise PhD students and mentor early-stage researchers; Contribute to proposal preparation and coordination of international research consortia;   REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CANDIDATE PhD degree in Informatics (N009), Informatics Engineering (T007) or Transport Engineering (T003); Qualification level equivalent to Senior Researcher / Principal Investigator; Proven scientific track record, including at least five peer-reviewed publications (preferably in Q1/Q2 journals) in AI for transport, mobility systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UEV) or related domains; At least 3 years of experience in national/international R&D/I projects related to intelligent transport systems, mobility, logistics, or smart infrastructure (e.g., traffic analysis, fleet management, autonomous systems, UEV, smart scheduling and optimization); Experience in applying AI methods such as machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, or data-driven optimization in transport, mobility, intelligent routing, and other contexts; A minimum of 1 year of experience in supervising R&D/I research projects or teams in AI, transport, or related domains; Strong understanding of real-world transport and mobility systems (e.g., telematics, IoT, and vehicle data) with the ability to translate complex real-world challenges into robust, scalable, and deployable AI solutions in operational environments; Strong leadership, organizational, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills; Experience in collaboration with industry or public sector stakeholders (e.g., transport authorities, mobility service providers) is considered an advantage. Language proficiency: Lithuanian (C1) and English (C1) Benefits Leadership role in a Centre, shaping the future of AI in transport and logistics; Opportunity to lead high-impact international R&I projects (e.g., HE, Digital Europe) Access to cutting-edge research infrastructure, including HPC resources, industrial robots, UEV, advanced IoT devices, AI testbeds, and experimental platforms for large-scale testing, simulation, and real-world deployment. Strong collaboration ecosystem with transport and mobility stakeholders Support for building and leading your own research team, including PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and interdisciplinary experts; Dedicated support for grant development and project management; Opportunities for scientific excellence and visibility, including publications, keynote talks, and participation in global AI networks. Method of Applications’ Submission and Closing Date for Applications Please submit all the required documents by email cv@ktu.lt Applications must be submitted by 16 September 2026 (inclusive). The list of documents that each Applicant must submit: The Curriculum Vitae (narrative CV) clearly outlining how the applicant meets the position requirements. Copy of diploma(s) certifying higher education. Copy of PhD diploma. Any other supporting documents the applicant considers relevant. Equal Opportunity Statement: The Employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.