Welcome to the Soft Robotics Lab

The research at Soft Robotics Lab explores how compliance in the robot body can be exploited for dealing with task and environment uncertainty and for interacting with humans. “Softness” offers higher safety, larger variability of movement and higher dexterity and shows the potential for building safer, cheaper and more intelligent autonomous robots than conventional robotics can achieve.

Taking inspiration from biological systems, which are able to survive in complex and unstructured environments thanks to the intrinsic compliance of their soft and flexible body, we are interested in understanding the mechanisms at the base of their high adaptability and in replicating them in robots for achieving intelligent behaviour. In particular the role of body morphology (i.e., form and structure), how biological systems use their body to control basic actions, and how intelligent behaviour emerges from the interaction between the body and the environment in which it is placed, constitute the foundation of the design of new soft actuators and sensors and new control strategies for the robot of the future.

PhD Opportunities (2025/2026) 

we are seeking motivated PhD candidates to join our group in exploring how soft robotics, tactile sensing, and Embodied intelligence principles can expand the capabilities of future robots.
Projects can be shaped around your background and interests within the following themes:

• Task-driven co-design of body and control for soft robots — exploring reinforcement learning and optimization for joint evolution of morphology and control.
• Design & control of a soft hand for manipulation — developing adaptive, learning-based grasping that merges compliant mechanics and tactile feedback.
• Control of a soft modular arm in cluttered environments — integrating proprioception, vision, and touch through sensor fusion and model-based control.
• Soft artificial skin and tactile sensing for robots — bio-inspired sensing systems for fine touch, texture perception, and force distribution.
• Proxi-tactile skin for industrial robots — combining proximity and tactile sensing for safe, human-aware manipulation.
• Soft systems for patient simulators — design and manufacturing of lifelike, sensorized soft-tissue systems for medical and surgical training.
• Bio-inspired soft systems for sustainability challenges — collaborating with biologists to design nature-inspired soft robots addressing UN goals such as clean water and resource resilience.
• Tactile sensor simulators, world models & tactile data generation — creating AI-driven simulation environments and predictive world models that allow robots to learn the physics of touch.

How to express interest
• Email perla[at]robots.ox.ac.uk with subject [PhD-SRL-2025/2026]
• Attach: CV + a 2-page research project outline aligned with one of the topics
• Indicate funding status (see below)

Funding
• Applicants requiring funding must apply in the first gathering field (deadline in December check the University website) and are encouraged to seek external scholarships (industry, government, foundations).
• If you already have a scholarship, please indicate the source and duration.

We welcome applicants from diverse disciplines:  robotics, mechanical and materials engineering, control, electrical engineering, and computer science.