Applications are being invited for 15–20 fully funded PhD fellowships under the AITHYRA-CeMM International PhD Program. The program has been designed to train a new generation of researchers at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the life sciences. These positions are being offered by AITHYRA, the newly established Research Institute for Biomedical Artificial Intelligence, and CeMM, the Research Center for Molecular Medicine, in cooperation with the Medical University of Vienna and the Technical University of Vienna. Nature Careers
Successful candidates will be hosted in a vibrant, international, and multidisciplinary environment where biology is integrated with computation and experimental research is complemented by AI-driven innovation. The fellowships will be awarded to early-career researchers with strong backgrounds in medicine, biology, chemistry, computer science, bioinformatics, engineering, or related disciplines.
Host Institutions: AITHYRA GmbH & CeMM – Research Institutes of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Location: Vienna, Austria
Deadline: 10 September 2025
Start Date: January 2026
The following will be offered to selected candidates:
- A 4-year employment contract with full funding, including all research costs and health insurance.
- A PhD degree awarded by the Medical University of Vienna or the Technical University of Vienna.
- A comprehensive training program designed to empower AI/ML and life science researchers.
- Supervision by top scientists and support from the full faculty at AITHYRA and CeMM.
- Access to cutting-edge technologies, including robotics, high-throughput genomics, proteomics, imaging, and chemical synthesis.
- A generous scholarship covering salary, tuition, work-related travel, and employee benefits (including health, accident, and retirement insurance).
Research Themes:
Projects will be conducted in areas such as infection, immunity, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, network medicine, organoids, bioengineering, and aging. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of multimodal biological data and the development of deep learning models, large language models, and graph-based algorithms for molecular and cellular networks.
Candidate Profile:
Applicants are expected to:
- Be exceptionally motivated, with a strong interest in AI/ML applications in life sciences.
- Demonstrate fluency in English and excellent communication skills.
- Possess relevant technical expertise, either in computational sciences (e.g., deep learning) or laboratory-based research.
- Hold, or be expected to obtain by January 2026, a degree in a related field (minimum: four-year Bachelor’s with honours).
Host Institutes:
Both AITHYRA and CeMM operate under the Austrian Academy of Sciences and are located at the Vienna BioCenter and Medical Campus Vienna, respectively. AITHYRA’s mission is to embed AI as a co-pilot in the entire biomedical discovery process, while CeMM focuses on translational research in molecular medicine. A culture of collaboration, innovation, and openness to art and society is fostered at both institutes.
Application Process:
Applications must be submitted online via:
Apply Here
Deadline for application submission: 10 September 2025
Program Start Date: January 2026
Location: Vienna, Austria – repeatedly ranked among the world’s best cities to live in.
For more information, please visit:
🔗 https://cemm.at/
🔗 https://www.oeaw.ac.at/aithyra
