PhD Position in Responsible AI
At the University of Vienna, almost 11,000 people work together on the big questions of the future. Approximately 7,700 of them are academic staff members. We are offering a PhD Position in Responsible AI at the Faculty of Computer Science.
Job vacancy starting: 15.10.2026. Working hours: 30.00. Classification CBA: §48 VwGr. B1 Grundstufe (praedoc). Limited contract until: 12.10.2029. Job ID: 6159.
The ideal start date for this position is between June and October 2026. The employment duration is 3 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 3 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a declaration of non-extension. With appropriate work progress, an extension to a total maximum of 4 years is possible.
About the team
Join the Responsible Machine Learning Group at the Faculty of Computer Science. Led by Prof. Dr. Martin Pawelczyk, the research sits at the intersection of AI Safety and Data-Centric AI. The team aims to make large-scale ML more reliable, transparent, and aligned with human values.
- Data-centric AI: Advancing machine unlearning, privacy-preserving techniques, and robust data curation.
- AI Safety: Ensuring robust alignment and safety in multi-agent LLM systems.
- Efficiency: Streamlining large-scale model experimentation and training.
- Science of Deep Learning: Exploring mechanistic interpretability and understanding the fundamental drivers of model performance at scale.
As an early member of this fast-growing team, you will have a unique opportunity to shape the research culture and contribute to high-impact projects from the ground up. Learn more at https://martinpawelczyk.github.io/.
Tasks and Responsibilities
- Develop machine learning methods and tools with a focus on Data-Centric AI, Agentic AI and Explainable AI.
- Invent, evaluate, and publish novel algorithms, aiming for theoretical guarantees when working with structured and unstructured data.
- Pursue and complete a PhD thesis within the appointed 4-year duration.
- Join the Vienna Doctoral School of Computer Science and conclude a doctoral thesis agreement within 12 months.
- Present your research results at top-tier international conferences, workshops, and journals.
- Contribute to the academic community by assisting in the organization of international meetings, conferences, and symposia.
- Take on administrative responsibilities to support the research group and the Faculty of Computer Science, including courses, examinations and student supervision within the collective bargaining agreement.
Your qualifications
Must-haves
- A Master's degree, completed or near completion, in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
- A solid background in machine learning, statistics and/or mathematics.
- Strong programming skills in Python and ideally proficiency in at least one major deep learning framework such as PyTorch or JAX.
- An early track record of research such as a high-quality Master's thesis, open-source contributions, or workshop papers.
- Excellent command of written and spoken English.
- A high degree of intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
Desirable skills
- Experience in training or fine-tuning large-scale models such as LLMs or VLMs in distributed settings.
- Familiarity with cluster computing environments such as SLURM and Linux-based workflows.
- Prior experience in a research lab, including contributions to publications or significant open-source projects.
- Teaching experience.
What we offer
- Competitive Compensation: A full-time salary of EUR 3,776.10 on a full-time basis, paid 14 times a year, which may increase if professional experience can be credited.
- World-Class Location: Live and work in Vienna, with excellent public transport.
- Inspiring work atmosphere: Become part of an international academic team in a healthy and collaborative working environment.
- Training and Coaching: Opportunity to deepen your skills with over 600 free courses.
- Contract Structure: Planned employment duration up to 4 years, initially 1.5 years with extension based on standard university procedures and research progress.
What you need to apply
- Academic curriculum vitae
- Cover letter stating the earliest start date and motivation to apply
- A copy of your thesis or an extended abstract if still in progress
- Official transcripts for both Bachelor's and Master's degrees
- Optional form: https://tinyurl.com/mvamwy7a
If you have any questions, please contact:
Martin Pawelczyk, martin.pawelczyk@univie.ac.at
Application deadline: 18.09.2026
Teilzeit
AI & Machine Learning
€ 2.832
