International PhD Program in AI for Biomedicine

About this opportunity

The AITHYRA Research Institute for Biomedical Artificial Intelligence, part of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, has officially opened applications for its International PhD Program 2026. The fully funded doctoral program invites outstanding students from around the world to pursue interdisciplinary research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, biology, chemistry, and medicine in Vienna, Austria. Applications are open from 1 September to 1 November 2026, with successful candidates beginning their fully funded four-year PhD on 1 September 2027. The program is designed for aspiring researchers who want to advance biomedical discovery through AI-driven experimental and computational science.

Requirements

Eligibility Requirements

The program welcomes applicants from both computational and life-science backgrounds, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration rather than requiring expertise in every field.

Applicants must:

• Hold or expect to obtain a Master’s degree by September 2027

• Have qualifications in computer science, AI, machine learning, bioinformatics, mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering, medicine, biology, chemistry, or related disciplines

• Demonstrate strong academic potential

• Show motivation to work at the interface of AI and biomedical sciences

• Be interested in interdisciplinary and collaborative research

• Meet the admission requirements of the relevant partner university

Importantly, AI applicants do not need prior biological training, and life-science applicants are not required to have computational expertise. The institute values complementary skills and a willingness to learn across disciplines.