Publication date: 30.09.2025
Closing date: 29.10.2025
Level of education: PhD
Hours: 40 hours per week
Salary indication: up to 14000 PLN gross monthly
Supervisor:
Sano: Dr. Przemysław Korzeniowski (Research Group Leader)
Project period: start ASAP (with a 3-month trial period), contract until the end of 07.2026, with a potential for extension for another year (subject to funding availability)
We invite applications for a fully funded Postdoctoral position in the area of intelligent surgical robotics, with a focus on Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models and Physically Informed Neural Networks (PINNs). The project builds on our decades-long research in surgical simulation and will be conducted in collaboration with NVIDIA, leveraging state-of-the-art GPU-based simulation environments and AI platforms.
The position will be hosted within the Medical Imaging and Robotics group led by Dr. Przemysław Korzeniowski at Sano Centre for Computational Medicine in Kraków, Poland. Dr. Korzeniowski earned his PhD at Imperial College London and has over a decade of international experience spanning academia, industry and successfully commercialized surgical training technologies now used worldwide (https://krn-labs.com).
Under his leadership, the group has published in leading journals and presented at top-tier conferences (MICCAI, NeurIPS, IEEE IROS, IEEE VR), winning multiple best paper awards. Recent achievements include award-winning synthetic data generation with diffusion models, and high-performance GPU-based simulation frameworks for surgical robotics. The team is already internationally recognized for bridging AI, simulation, and robotics and has active collaborations with major clinical and industrial partners across Europe and beyond.
Research Objectives
The selected candidate will contribute to advancing the following areas:
- Development of Vision-Language-Action models for interpreting both real and virtual surgery, tool kinematics, and spoken or written surgical instructions.
- Integration of Physically Informed Neural Networks to model tissue dynamics, surgical tool interactions, and safety constraints in real time.
- Design of robot learning algorithms combining simulation and real-world surgical data.
- Collaboration with simulation experts, clinicians, and NVIDIA engineers to build scalable, high-fidelity training and evaluation environments.
- Dissemination of results via top-tier journals and conferences in AI, robotics, and medical technology.
- Apply for grants for further research,
- Co-mentor junior scientists – PhD students and MSc students.
Candidate Profile
We are seeking highly motivated candidates with enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of AI, robotics, and medicine.
Essential qualifications:
- PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Machine Learning, or related fields.
- Programming skills in Python/C++ and experience with ML frameworks (e.g. PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX).
- Strong background in deep learning (transformers, reinforcement learning, multimodal models).
- Proven research ability demonstrated through publications in leading AI/robotics venues.
- Ability to think critically, work independently, and solve complex problems,
Desirable qualifications:
- Experience with Vision-Language(-Action) models or physics-informed ML.
- Experience with GPU programming, NVIDIA Omniverse, Isaac Sim, or other 3D engines (Unity3D, Unreal Engine)
- Familiarity with surgical robotics, biomechanics, or medical image analysis.
- Strong English communication skills and ability to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.
What We Offer
- A dynamic research environment with established expertise in surgical simulation and AI for healthcare.
- Direct collaboration with NVIDIA, including access to cutting-edge simulation and GPU technologies.
- Opportunities to present and publish at leading international conferences.
- Mentorship and career development support in both academic and industry pathways.
- A vibrant international team with strong links to surgeons, hospitals, and industrial partners.
Job application
Sano is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.
Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application.
Applications in .pdf should include:
- a cover letter
- a curriculum vitae
Apply: