Join Us

Join the Ambient Intelligence Lab (AmI-Lab)

The Ambient Intelligence Lab (AmI-Lab) in the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Construction Management at the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design – The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) – is recruiting motivated students to join our research team.

We currently invite applications for two fully funded Ph.D. positions, starting Spring 2026 or Fall 2026.
Funding includes tuition waiver + competitive stipend.

Research Areas

Our lab explores how Artificial Intelligence, Embedded and Wearable Sensing, and Mixed Reality (VR/AR/MR) work together to create human-centric ambient intelligence for smart built environments.

Ongoing research topics include:

  • Human–Building Interaction – Proactive and intuitive interfaces that facilitate occupant interactions
  • Large Language Models (LLMs) – Prompting and fine-tuning for smart building reasoning engines
  • AI Agents – Systems that perceive, plan, and act on IoT and building data (e.g., energy management)
  • Embedded & Wearable Sensing – Physiological and environmental sensing for human state inference
  • Mixed Reality (VR/AR/MR) – Immersive tools for design, training, and operations in built environments
  • Digital Twins – Virtual/physical synchronization for monitoring, simulation, and control
  • Space Habitats – Extending building-scale AmI to extraterrestrial environments and testbeds

Qualifications

Essential

  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Architectural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field
  • Demonstrated programming experience (e.g., Python, R, MATLAB, or comparable languages)

Desirable

  • Master’s degree in a relevant field
  • Prior research experience and/or publications
  • Experience with Machine Learning/LLMs (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, Prompt Engineering)
  • Background in BIM, building systems, IoT, wearables, or time-series data analysis
  • Exposure to VR/AR/MR workflows (Unity/Unreal Engine) or digital twin platforms

About UT San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is a Tier One research university and the third-largest public research institution in Texas.
UTSA is nationally recognized for its commitment to student success, research excellence, and community impact.

Highlights:

  • Cutting-edge research facilities and innovation ecosystem
  • Located in San Antonio, one of the fastest-growing U.S. cities
  • Opportunities to translate ideas into impact and shape the future of engineering and society

More information: UTSA Homepage

University of Texas at San Antonio Main Campus.

How to Apply

To apply, please:

  1. Email Dr. Tianzhi He at tianzhi.he@utsa.edu with the subject line:

    “AmI Lab PhD Application – Your Full Name”

    Include:

    • CV/Resume
    • Cover letter describing research interests and relevant experience
    • Writing samples (if available, e.g., publications, course papers)
  2. Submit a formal application to the UTSA Graduate School:
    👉 UTSA Civil Engineering Ph.D. Program Application

Contact

📧 Email: tianzhi.he@utsa.edu
📍 Office: BSE 1.310, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249

We look forward to welcoming passionate and creative minds to the AmI-Lab!