PhD Position on Vision-Language-Action Model Evaluation for Autonomous Driving

Job description
Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models are a revolutionary paradigm for autonomous driving, enabling systems to jointly perceive, reason, and act in complex environments. However, evaluating such end-to-end models remains challenging, as most existing benchmarks rely on open-loop evaluation and fail to capture closed-loop interactions between a vehicle and its environment. This PhD project focuses on evaluating VLA models using closed-loop simulation methods, which generate photorealistic sensor feedback after each action. Achieving this requires novel view synthesis techniques that enable realistic simulation from previously unseen viewpoints, as well as the integration of language as a modality for evaluation, reasoning, and interpretability. One goal of the project is to develop public datasets and benchmarks specifically designed for closed-loop VLA evaluation.

This fully funded, four-year PhD position takes place at TU Delft and is carried out in close cooperation with researchers from Qualcomm, which funds the project. The research is embedded in an international academic–industrial collaboration and targets fundamental questions in end-to-end autonomous driving and neural view synthesis. Your work is expected to lead to publications at top-tier venues such as CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, NeurIPS or ICRA. You will have access to extensive compute resources at TU Delft, ranging from local GPU servers to large-scale HPC infrastructure. The PhD will be supervised by Dr. Holger Caesar.

Job requirements

• We are seeking PhD applicants with an interest in performing cutting edge research in an active and exciting research area.
• Prospective applicants should have a strong academic record with a solid background in Machine Learning.
• Knowledge of Vision-Language-Action models and Novel View Synthesis techniques is a strong plus.
• Good programming skills (Python) and knowledge of deep-learning frameworks (PyTorch) are expected.
• A certain affinity towards turning complex concepts into real-world practice is desired.
• The successful candidate is expected to be able to act independently as well as to collaborate effectively with members of a larger team and supervise Master students.
• Good English skills are required.

The work takes place in Delft, The Netherlands, but allows for working two days per week from home.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Holger Caesar (h.caesar@tudelft.nl).

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 20 March 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to Dr. Holger Caesar.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
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