The European Union Innovative Training Networks (ITN) SMART (Soft, Self-responsive, Smart MAterials for RoboTs) program is recruiting 15 “Marie Curie” PhD Students interested in doctoral-level training in the fields of soft robotics and smart materials. The deadline for applications is Thursday, April 30, 2020. The Innovative Training Networks (ITN) aim to train a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative early-stage researchers, able to face current and future challenges and to convert knowledge and ideas into products and services for economic and social benefit.
For this purpose, the SMART program brings together partner organizations including centers of research excellence in smart materials and soft robotics. The development of soft materials applications has a central role in the field of human-controlled industrial and surgical robotic systems focusing on customizable machines that are capable of performing a wide variety of tasks and interacting with dynamic and unknown environments or operating with precision in unstructured environments.
The SMART program is a joint venture between academia and industry. The Consortium includes 8 beneficiaries and 11 partner organizations, research institutes and private companies belonging to 7 EU member states, and to 2 associated states (Switzerland and Turkey).

Two PhD students will be enrolled in a three-year doctoral training supervised by Cecilia Laschi,  Matteo Cianchetti and Egidio Falotico of the Sant’Anna School BioRobotics Institute. Their research programs will include two areas of expertise: Variable stiffness in self-healing soft robots and Control and behavior of self-healing soft robots.

The ITN SMART training program responds to well identified research fields primarily focused on scientific and technological knowledge through research on individual and personalized projects. The program exploits complementary competences of the participating organizations, and enables sharing of knowledge, networking activities, workshops and conferences.

Applicants can refer to http://www.smartitn.eu/recruitment/ for further information on eligibility and the Call terms and conditions.