Apply for a three-year salaried PhD in simulation-supervised machine learning for biology at the University of Copenhagen. Deadline: 15 September 2026.
Who can apply?
The university does not state a nationality restriction. Applicants must satisfy the academic requirements for enrolment in the University of Copenhagen Faculty of Science PhD School.
The regular PhD route requires a completed qualification equivalent to:
A three-year Danish bachelor’s degree worth 180 ECTS; and
A two-year Danish master’s degree worth 120 ECTS.
Applicants who have not yet completed their degree may submit a recent certified transcript or written confirmation from their institution or supervisor. Successful employment remains conditional on acceptance into the university’s PhD School.
Benefits
•Full-time PhD employment for up to three years
•Salary under the relevant Danish collective agreement
•Research experience in machine learning, simulation and biological applications
•Participation in the Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded DREAM project
•Access to the University of Copenhagen’s IMAGE research section
•Research direction partly developed with the selected candidate
Applicants should have a strong background in one or more of the following:
•Computer science
•Machine learning
•Scientific computing
•Physics
•Applied mathematics
•A closely related field
Relevant experience may include:
•Machine learning, deep learning or generative modelling
•Computer vision or biological-image analysis
•Differentiable programming using JAX or PyTorch
•Numerical simulation or physics-based modelling
•Scientific computing
•Domain adaptation
•Synthetic-data generation
•Simulation-to-reality methods
•Microscopy data
•Biophysical systems
•Computational biology
Applicants do not appear to need experience in every listed area. Selection will nevertheless be competitive, and candidates should demonstrate clear alignment with the project.
Required documents
Submit the following in English:
•Motivated application letter — maximum one page
•Bachelor’s and master’s diplomas and transcripts
•Authorised English translations where documents are not in English or Danish
CV covering education, experience, language and relevant skills
•Grade information, if possible
•One publication, project or code sample you are proud of
•Bachelor’s or master’s thesis, if available
•Names and email addresses of references
•Publication list, if available
•Reference letters, if available
Application steps
1.Read the complete individual vacancy.
2.Confirm that your qualifications are equivalent to the required Danish degree structure.
3.Prepare the application and attachments in English.
4.Select a strong publication, research project or code repository demonstrating relevant ability.
5.Write a focused one-page motivation letter connecting your experience to simulation-supervised machine learning.
6.Apply through the vacancy’s Apply Now button.
7.Submit before 15 September 2026 at 23:59 CET.
8.Keep the application confirmation and copies of all uploaded documents.
Important warnings
•This is a specialised research vacancy—not a generic PhD application.
•A bachelor’s degree alone does not normally satisfy the regular programme requirement.
•Employment is conditional upon successful enrolment at the Faculty of Science PhD School.
•The successful applicant must help formulate a project-specific PhD application acceptable to the PhD school.
•The university does not state an exact salary in the advert.
•The advert does not guarantee visa sponsorship, immigration fees, relocation funding, airfare, or accommodation.
•Do not pay an agent for an “application slot.” Apply only through the official university system.
The official deadline includes a specific time: 23:59 CET.
