AITHYRA-CeMM Joint International PhD Call
in Molecular Medicine and Artificial Intelligence (all genders)
AITHYRA the new Research Institute for Biomedical Artificial Intelligence and CeMM, the Research Center for Molecular Medicine, both institutes of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, open a new call for PhD Students.
Participating groups and research projects
Including videos introducing AITHYRA Junior PIs and their research
In-Person Interview Days
Detailed information for candidates is available via the PhD app.
Day 1 March 30 at CeMM
Lazarettgasse 14, AKH BT 25.3, 1090 Vienna
Day 2 March 31 at AITHYRA
Helmut-Qualtinger-Gasse 2, 1030 Vienna
Online Panel Interviews
On one of the panel interview days (March 2 or 3), each candidate will have two 15-minute panel interviews. Not all faculty members will be in your panel interviews; therefore we will record the interviews (to be kept during the PhD call only) so that other interested faculty members can watch the videos.
What to expect during the interviews
Interview Format: Each interview lasts approximately 13 minutes. It begins with a friendly welcome, followed by a structured set of questions, and concludes with space for any questions you may have.
Inclusive Atmosphere: Our panels strive to create a supportive environment. It is perfectly acceptable to “think aloud” while solving problems, and you are encouraged to take a moment to collect your thoughts before answering.
During the online panel interview, the discussion will cover your scientific knowledge, academic trajectory and motivation for pursuing a PhD. There will also be a number of social sessions over the two days to meet current PhD students. The Panel “Scientific Knowledge/Fundamentals” focuses on your foundational knowledge and interdisciplinary fluency. It will include questions to assess your familiarity with core concepts in life sciences, AI/machine learning, or statistics, based on your scientific background. The Panel “Scientific Interest/Motivation and Fit for Program” will be a deeper dive into your previous research experience and your critical thinking skills.
Meet the PhD students
There will also be several possibilities to meet and chat with current PhD students at AITHYRA and CeMM – for details visit the PhD app. During these sessions you can meet informally with members of groups you are interested in, ask open questions or just have a friendly chat.
After the Panel Interviews
Only candidates who passed the first stage (consisting of the online panel interviews) will be invited to the second stage (an in-person event in Vienna on 30-31 March) and will get the chance for personal interviews with the group leaders. All candidates will have the opportunity to nominate groups of interest during the panel interview stage and, if there is a match in interest, they will be invited to the second stage of final interviews. Candidates will be informed of the decision latest by the end of the week of the interviews.
Timeline
Application phase
During the application phase of the call, all candidates are required to apply via our online application system. There, you will be asked to fill in an application form with basic information, to upload a motivation letter, CV, and study certificate/s, and to give the contact details of at least two referees. Before the application can be submitted, at least one of your referees must have completed an online reference. Please note, an application will only be considered if a second referee has completed an online reference before the final submission deadline. Therefore, be sure to start the application process as soon as possible.
Application review
The AITHYRA-CeMM selection procedure is a multi-stage process designed to identify scientific excellence and ensuring a strong mentor-student fit. Once eligibility is confirmed, your application undergoes a rigorous faculty review where your academic record, research experience, references, and motivation are weighted equally. Top-scoring candidates will advance to online panel interviews with a diverse committee of senior and junior scientists.
Online panel interviews
On one of the panel interview days (March 2 or 3), each candidate will have two 15-minute panel interviews. Not all faculty members will be in your panel interviews; therefore we will record the interviews (to be kept during the PhD call only) so that other interested faculty members can watch the videos.
During the online panel interview, the discussion will cover your scientific knowledge, academic trajectory and motivation for pursuing a PhD. There will also be a number of social sessions over the two days to meet current PhD students.
By the end of the online panel interview phase, you will be asked to submit your preference regarding which research groups you would like to work with.
Day 1, Monday, 2nd March:
Online Panel interviews (via Zoom)
Social sessions to meet current PhD students (via Gather)
Day 2, Tuesday, 3rd March:
Online Panel interviews (via Zoom)
Social sessions to meet current PhD students (via Gather)
Only candidates who passed the first stage (consisting of the online panel interviews) will be invited to the second stage (an in-person event in Vienna on 30-31 March) and will get the chance for personal interviews with the group leaders. All candidates will have the opportunity to nominate groups of interest during the panel interview stage and, if there is a match in interest, they will be invited to the second stage of final interviews.
In-person match-making event
Selected candidates are invited to Vienna for an in-person match-making event in March. At the in-person match-making event, you will be asked to introduce yourself through a presentation, followed by 1:1 interviews with the group leaders of interest from AITHYRA and CeMM Faculty. There are also plenty of opportunities to meet research group members in a variety of social settings and to attend an informal dinner. Assistance will be provided for all travel, accommodation and visa processes.
Call Open
Application Review
Online Panel Interviews
In-person Match-Making Event
(ppersonal Interviews)
PhD Program Start Date
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply before I receive my degree?
Yes, you do not need to have completed your degree at the time of application. However, you must anticipate obtaining your final degree certificate by the end of September 2026. If your degree certificate is not available at the time of your application, we kindly ask you to upload a copy of your latest academic transcript and a temporary transcript of your current enrolment instead.
Do I have to have any specific English language exam qualifications or grades?
No, we do not ask for any specific language exam qualifications or grades. However, the working language at AITHYRA and CeMM is English, so excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required.
Do I have to have a Master’s degree?
No, you can also apply if you have a Bachelor’s degree. However, in this case you must have completed a four year course, achieved a first class honours or a 2:1, and you should be able to demonstrate that you have acquired a significant amount of research experience.
Can I apply by emailing my CV and motivation letter to the PhD program coordinators?
No, you must submit your application through the centralised online application system.
My referees have already written reference letters for me. Can I upload scanned copies of these letters instead of asking my referees to submit a reference online?
No, your referees are required to fill in the online reference form.
I cannot enter my name/my referee’s name.
Please make sure that you are not trying to use any special characters, as non-Roman alphabet characters may not be recognised.
Which documents do I have to upload to complete my application?
You have to upload 1. a motivation letter, 2. your CV, and 3. your study certificate/s. If your degree certificate is not available at the time of your application, we kindly ask you to upload a copy of your latest academic transcripts instead.
Do I need to have my certificates translated into English and authenticated?
No, there is no need to have your certificates translated or authenticated during the online application process. The official translation and authentication of the certificates and degrees is only required at a later stage for registration at the Medical University of Vienna or the Technical University of Vienna.
Why am I unable to submit my application?
Please kindly check that all the mandatory information fields have been completed. Please also make sure that you have uploaded at least one document to support your application, and that at least one of your referees has submitted a reference.
How can I check the status of my application and ensure that my referees have completed their references?
Open the second step of the application and there you will see a tab called “Your Referees”. Click on this tab and you can check the status of your references and send them a reminder if necessary.
Where do I find a list of open positions/projects?
The joint AITHYRA-CeMM PhD call focuses on a small number of thematic research areas which reflect the research strengths of current AITHYRA-CeMM faculty. Rather than applying for a specific project with a specific Principal Investigator, all candidates apply to a common pool of positions and research areas. The list of participating groups can be found on this page.
Should I contact a specific group leader with whom I wish to work before applying to the joint AITHYRA-CeMM Call?
No, please do not contact group leaders directly. Since all candidates are applying to a common pool of positions, it is not possible at the application stage to request to work with a particular Principal Investigator.
Do I have to include which research topics or groups I am interested in in the letter of motivation?
You are welcome to include the group names or research topic you are most interested in and explain why you are interested in it.
I already have a PhD, can I apply?
No, the PhD program only accepts students who are currently enrolled in Master programs or who have recently completed their Master’s degree.
Can I apply without scientific publications?
Yes, while publications strengthen your application, it is no requirement. You may include publications that are currently under review.
What courses are provided by the CeMM and AITHYRA PhD program?
The PhD program is a research-intensive program, which means that most of the time the students are working on their research project with only limited coursework. A 3-week orientation program, lectures and seminar series, as well as short training modules are part of the program.
Online panel interviews in
AITHYRA-CeMM Joint International PhD Call in Molecular Medicine and Artificial Intelligence
Do you want to work in a creative, free-minded scientific environment, and translate your findings to improve human health?
- Are you excited to gain new understanding of the molecular physiology and pathology of humans and using innovative technologies to develop novel therapies?
- Do you want to join an international group of highly collaborative and successful colleagues that help you achieve your training and research goals?
- Are you a person who enjoys teamwork across disciplines and within a broader cultural and social context?
- Do you want to develop your innovation and entrepreneurship skills at the cutting-edge of AI/ML and biomedical research?
If yes, apply now of our 15-20 fully funded PhD positions here: https://apply.cemm.at/
Supported by the Medical University of Vienna, the Technical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, the AITHYRA and CeMM PhD programs for both life scientists and computational scientists/machine learning experts will start in September 2026.
We offer
- a highly interactive introductory program in a supportive peer-group environment
- supervision by a top scientist and support of the Faculty of either AITHYRA or CeMM
- a PhD degree awarded by the Medical University of Vienna, the Technical University of Vienna or University of Vienna
- a dynamic and highly multidisciplinary international research environment
- full access to state-of-the-art technologies
- excellent employee benefits including full insurance coverage (health, accident, retirement), health care services, subsidized lunch
- a wide range of social, cultural, and sports activities organized by the institutes
- a generous scholarship, which covers all research costs, university fees, work-related travel expenses for 4 years
- Minimum gross monthly salary of EUR 2.779,60 paid 14 times a year (following the recommendations of FWF)
Find more details on benefits of working and living in Vienna here.
You are
- an exceptionally motivated PhD candidate with a keen interest in interdisciplinary teamwork and science that nurtures the precise, personalized, predictive and preventive medicine of the future
- excellent in writing and speaking English
- an early career researcher with research experience, presentation skills and a commitment to research integrity
- a candidate with (or obtaining by September 2026) a final degree in medicine, biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, computer science, computational biology, bioengineering, engineering, physics, statistics, mathematics, or a related scientific or technical field (minimum requirement is a four-year Bachelor’s degree with honours)
The mission of AITHYRA is to fundamentally transform biomedical science by embedding artificial intelligence as a co-pilot throughout the entire scientific process-from hypothesis generation and experimental design to biological interpretation and therapeutic innovation. Through a coherent integration of AI/ML across biological scales, the goal is to improve our understanding of the root cause of diseases, their diagnosis and the conceptualization of novel therapeutic strategies while inspiring new innovations in AI/ML. In order to create sufficient amounts of data to support AI applications, AITHYRA invests in experimental automation through a robotics laboratory infrastructure. While this research program is broadly applicable in life sciences, the focus will be on cancer, immunology, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Aithyra is co-led by Michael Bronstein (Scientific Director for AI), Georg Winter (Scientific Director for Life Sciences), and Anita Ender (Managing Director) and is located at the Marxbox on the Campus of the Vienna Biocenter. Find more information here.
The mission of CeMM is to achieve maximum scientific innovation in molecular medicine to improve healthcare. At CeMM, an international and creative team of scientists and medical doctors pursues free-minded, basic life science research in a large and vibrant hospital environment of outstanding medical tradition and practice. CeMM’s research is based on post-genomic technologies and focuses on societally important diseases, such as immune disorders and infections, cancer, metabolic disorders, and aging. The goal of CeMM is to pioneer the science that nurtures the precise, personalized, predictive, and preventive medicine of the future. CeMM is co-led by Maria Rescigno (Scientific Director) and Anita Ender (Administrative Director) located right at the heart of the Medical Campus Vienna, one of the largest in Europe, door-to-door with the Medical University of Vienna, the Vienna General Hospital (AKH). Find more information here.
