group

PAIRS Lab

Physical AI and Robotic Systems Lab (物理智能与机器人系统实验室)

Towards Trustworthy and Scalable Physical AI for Human-Machine Symbiosis

Our group is led by Fangqiang Ding, currently a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at HKUST(GZ). Our mission is to build the next-generation Physical AI systems that can solve complex real-world challenges, enable widespread and long-term deployment, and advance a future of human–machine symbiosis.

Research Directions

Include but not limited to:

  1. Multisensory intelligence for reliable mobile autonomous systems
  2. Generalized and non-intrusive human motion and interaction understanding
  3. Long-horizon and self-improving mobile manipulation across scenarios
  4. Multimodal data and scene synthesis for scalable robot learning

Open Positions

We are actively recruiting:

  • PhD students (27 Spring and 27 Fall)
  • MPhil students (26 Fall and 27 Fall)
  • Research assistants (RA) / Interns
  • Visiting students

For RA and interns, both onsite and remote arrangements are supported.

What We Offer

  • Sufficient computing resources and hardware support
  • Weekly regular guidance and research discussions
  • An open, inclusive, and collaborative lab culture
  • High-level research training and international collaboration opportunities
  • Industry partnerships and project implementation experience
  • Support for paper publications and conference travel

Financial support:

  • PhD: Full-time students are automatically considered for PGS (RMB 15,000/month) for up to 4 years..
  • MPhil: Full-time research MPhil students are automatically considered for PGS (RMB 10,000/month) for up to 2 years. Admission and supervisor matching follow the university’s official MPhil admission process.
  • RA / Interns: Living stipends may be provided on a case-by-case basis.

What We Look For

  • Passion for research, self-motivation, curiosity, and strong hands-on ability
  • Relevant publication or project experience, with an initial understanding of the field
  • Familiarity with AI tools or hardware; proficiency in programming and English writing
  • Willingness to commit long-term to solving real-world problems and conducting impactful research

How to Apply

Please email fangqiangd@hkust-gz.edu.cn with the subject line:

PAIRS Lab: [PhD/MPhil/RA/Intern/Visitor] Application - [Your Name]

Include:

  • Resume (CV)
  • Statement of research fit — your research experience, interests, and future plans
  • Relevant papers, reports, transcripts, certificates, or other supporting materials (if any)

We welcome interested students to reach out — and please feel free to share this page with others who might be a good fit.