Scholarship
Deadline in 17 days
Deadline: November 9, 2026
The Niu Lab at New Mexico State University (NMSU) is inviting applications from highly motivated prospective PhD students interested in advancing the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, computer vision and related technologies in agriculture. The fully funded PhD positions provide an opportunity for students to undertake interdisciplinary research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and agricultural applications, with an anticipated start in Spring or Fall 2027. The opportunity is particularly suitable for graduates in computer science, engineering, agricultural engineering and closely related disciplines who want to pursue advanced research focused on developing intelligent technologies for productive and sustainable agriculture.
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The Niu Lab at New Mexico State University (NMSU) is inviting applications from highly motivated prospective PhD students interested in advancing the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, computer vision and related technologies in agriculture. The fully funded PhD positions provide an opportunity for students to undertake interdisciplinary research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and agricultural applications, with an anticipated start in Spring or Fall 2027. The opportunity is particularly suitable for graduates in computer science, engineering, agricultural engineering and closely related disciplines who want to pursue advanced research focused on developing intelligent technologies for productive and sustainable agriculture. According to the opportunity announcement, the Niu Lab is recruiting multiple PhD students to join NMSU’s Department of Computer Science and work across artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, robotics and agriculture.
The positions are hosted by the Niu Lab at New Mexico State University and will be supervised by Dr. Haoyu Niu. The selected PhD students will conduct research in an interdisciplinary environment, working with several NMSU units and agricultural research partners. The research brings together computer science and agricultural applications, creating opportunities for students to work on technologies capable of addressing real-world challenges in modern agriculture. The anticipated programme start is Spring or Fall 2027, depending on the position and successful applicant.
One of the major advantages of the opportunity is that each position comes with several forms of financial and academic support.
A stipend to support their graduate studies and living expenses. Tuition coverage, helping reduce the financial burden associated with pursuing a doctoral degree. Health insurance as part of the funding package. Conference travel support, providing opportunities for students to participate in academic and research conferences and share their work with the wider scientific community. The attached announcement specifically states that each position includes a stipend, tuition coverage, health insurance and conference travel support. This combination makes the opportunity particularly attractive to students seeking a funded doctoral research pathway in artificial intelligence, robotics, computer vision and agricultural technology.
The PhD positions focus on several closely connected areas of artificial intelligence and agricultural technology. Applicants are expected to have an academic background or strong research interest in at least one of the listed areas.
These areas can be applied to agricultural problems requiring intelligent prediction, analysis, automation and decision-making. Applicants with previous research experience in AI or machine learning are therefore well positioned to demonstrate their suitability for the positions.
Another major research area is computer vision and multimodal sensing. This area is relevant to agricultural systems that need to collect and interpret visual or other forms of sensor information. Students interested in using cameras, sensors and AI-based analysis to understand agricultural environments may find this research direction particularly relevant.
This research area provides opportunities to explore how intelligent machines can operate in agricultural environments with reduced human intervention.
Another research direction is digital twins and simulation for agricultural systems. Students working in this area may explore computational representations and simulations of agricultural systems as tools for research, analysis and decision-making. The announcement identifies AI and machine learning, computer vision and multimodal sensing, robotics and autonomous systems, and digital twins and simulation for agricultural systems as key areas of research interest.
The PhD students will not work exclusively within one academic discipline.
This interdisciplinary structure is important because the research is designed to connect advanced computational technologies with practical agricultural challenges. Students will therefore have the opportunity to work at the intersection of technical research and agricultural applications rather than studying artificial intelligence in isolation.
Applicants should have an appropriate academic background and demonstrate an interest in research relevant to the positions.
The announcement specifically requires a B.S. or M.S. degree in one of these disciplines or a closely related area.
Applicants should have an academic background or strong research interest in one or more of the following:
Having relevant research experience can help demonstrate an applicant’s preparedness for doctoral-level research.
Proficiency in C++ or Python is required for the positions. Experience with ROS or ROS 2 is described as desirable. This means applicants with programming experience in Python or C++, particularly those who have applied these skills to artificial intelligence, robotics, computer vision, machine learning or related research projects, may be well suited to the opportunity. Applicants with experience using ROS or ROS 2 can also demonstrate additional preparation for research involving robotics and autonomous systems.
The PhD positions are not limited to laboratory or computer-based research. Applicants must be willing to conduct field experiments. This requirement is particularly relevant because the research is connected to agriculture and may involve testing AI-enabled systems, sensing technologies, autonomous platforms or other technologies in real agricultural environments. Prospective students should therefore be comfortable with an interdisciplinary research approach that may combine: Computational research; Programming and AI development; Data collection and analysis;
Agricultural field experiments.
Strong written communication skills;
The ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary research team. These skills are important for PhD researchers because doctoral research often involves collaboration with researchers from different academic backgrounds, presentation of findings, preparation of research publications and communication of technical results.
The positions are supervised by Dr. Haoyu Niu, who earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Merced, in 2022.
Artificial intelligence; Computer vision;
Precision agriculture. According to the announcement, his research has a particular focus on AI-enabled robotic systems for crop monitoring.
Vision-based sensing; Autonomous navigation;
Intelligent decision-making. The overall objective is to develop practical technologies that can contribute to productive and sustainable agriculture. This research profile makes the PhD positions particularly relevant to applicants who want to pursue careers in AI-enabled agriculture, agricultural robotics, precision agriculture, autonomous systems, computer vision or intelligent sensing.
Interested applicants are required to submit their application materials directly by email to Dr. Haoyu Niu.
Academic qualifications; Research experience; Programming skills; Publications; Projects;
Other experience relevant to AI, robotics, computer vision, machine learning or agriculture.
Applicants should provide their academic transcripts as part of the application. These should demonstrate their academic preparation for doctoral-level research.
Applicants should also provide samples demonstrating their previous research or technical work.
Publications;
A portfolio. Applicants should therefore select work that demonstrates their capabilities and research interests in areas relevant to the PhD positions. The application materials should be emailed to Dr. Haoyu Niu at [email protected].
Using the requested subject line can help ensure that the application is clearly identified and processed appropriately.
There is no fixed application deadline stated in the announcement. Instead, applications will be reviewed as they are received until all positions are filled. This makes early application particularly important. Interested candidates should prepare their materials and submit them as soon as possible rather than waiting for a conventional closing date. Because positions may be filled progressively, applicants should not assume that applications submitted later will receive the same consideration as those submitted earlier.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. After the initial review, shortlisted applicants will be invited to a virtual interview.
Their academic background; Previous research experience; Relevant programming skills; Research interests; Interest in AI and agriculture; Relevant publications or projects;
Their ability to work within an interdisciplinary research team.
These PhD positions may be particularly suitable for graduates who want to build advanced expertise in the application of artificial intelligence to agriculture.
Artificial intelligence research; Machine learning and deep learning; Computer vision; Robotics; Autonomous systems; Agricultural robotics; Precision agriculture; Multimodal sensing; Digital twins; Agricultural simulation; Unmanned aerial vehicles; Unmanned ground vehicles;
Sustainable and technology-driven agriculture. The opportunity may also appeal to students who want to combine computer science or engineering with real-world agricultural applications.
A doctoral position that combines AI with agriculture can provide an opportunity to work on research problems with practical applications. Modern agriculture increasingly involves technologies such as sensors, robotics, computer vision, autonomous systems and data-driven decision-making. The Niu Lab’s research focus brings these technologies together with agricultural systems. For students interested in this field, the opportunity offers several potentially valuable dimensions:
The funding package includes a stipend, tuition coverage, health insurance and conference travel support, reducing some of the financial challenges associated with doctoral education.
Students can work across computer science, AI, robotics and agricultural sciences, allowing them to develop expertise that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries.
The research is oriented toward practical technologies for agriculture, including crop monitoring, sensing, autonomous navigation and intelligent decision-making.
Conference travel support can provide opportunities to present research and engage with researchers working in related fields.
Students can develop research expertise in areas such as deep learning, computer vision, robotics, autonomous systems, sensor fusion and agricultural simulation.
The exact start timing may depend on the position and successful applicant.
An updated CV. Academic transcripts. Relevant publications, project reports or portfolio materials. Evidence of relevant AI, machine learning, computer vision, robotics, engineering or agricultural research experience where applicable. Demonstrated proficiency in C++ or Python. A clear explanation of their research interests. An interest in interdisciplinary research. Willingness to conduct agricultural field experiments. The correct email subject line: Your Name_PhD Application. All materials ready for submission to [email protected]. Visit HERE for more information about the Fully Funded PhD Positions in AI for Agriculture at New Mexico State University, USA.
The Fully Funded PhD Positions in AI for Agriculture at New Mexico State University offer an opportunity for qualified graduates to pursue doctoral research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, robotics and agriculture. With funding that includes a stipend, tuition coverage, health insurance and conference travel support, the positions are designed to support students throughout their doctoral research. The programme also provides an interdisciplinary environment involving computer science and agricultural research, with research directions ranging from deep learning and computer vision to autonomous robotics, multimodal sensing, digital twins and agricultural simulation. The positions are expected to begin in Spring or Fall 2027, while applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Prospective applicants should therefore prepare their CV, transcripts and relevant work samples and submit their application directly to Dr. Haoyu Niu as early as possible. For more global PhD opportunities, visit OFY HERE.
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