Fully Funded PhD Positions in AI & Personalized Nutrition at the University of Vienna

Are you passionate about the future of human health, artificial intelligence, and the life sciences? The University of Vienna, one of the oldest and most prestigious academic institutions in Europe, is currently recruiting highly motivated PhD candidates to join the groundbreaking AIPN (Artificial Intelligence for Personalized Nutrition) Research Platform.

If you are eager to work at the intersection of machine learning, multi-omics, metabolomics, microbiome science, and behavioral psychology, this is a unique opportunity to advance your academic career in one of the world’s most livable cities.

Currently, there are open PhD positions across 5 different aspects of the AIPN research platform. Below, we provide a comprehensive guide to these vacancies, the benefits of pursuing your PhD at the University of Vienna, the employment terms, and exactly how to apply through the University’s STEM Call.

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Why Choose the University of Vienna?

Founded in 1365, the University of Vienna is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and one of the largest in Central Europe. With a long-standing tradition of academic excellence and numerous Nobel laureates associated with its faculties, it represents a global hub for innovative, interdisciplinary research.

Life in Vienna: The World’s Most Livable City

Beyond the laboratory and the lecture hall, pursuing a PhD in Vienna means living in a city that consistently ranks as the #1 city in the world for quality of life (according to the Mercer and Economist Intelligence Unit indices). Vienna offers an exceptional public transportation system, world-class healthcare, vibrant cultural and historical scenes, and an incredibly safe environment.

The Austrian PhD System: You Are a Salaried Employee

Similar to the Scandinavian model, doctoral candidates in Austria are considered university employees, not just students.

• Salary and Benefits: You will receive a standardized, competitive salary governed by the Austrian collective agreement for university staff. In Austria, employees typically receive 14 salaries per year (including a summer and winter bonus).
• Social Security: You are fully integrated into the Austrian social security system, meaning you have comprehensive health insurance, pension contributions, and paid sick leave.
• Work-Life Balance: Austrian labor laws ensure a healthy work-life balance, providing generous paid annual leave (typically 5 weeks per year).

About the AIPN Research Platform

The Artificial Intelligence for Personalized Nutrition (AIPN) platform is a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary initiative at the University of Vienna.

Historically, nutrition science has relied on broad, population-wide dietary guidelines. However, human metabolism is highly individualized, influenced by genetics, microbiome composition, lifestyle, and psychology. The AIPN platform seeks to revolutionize this by integrating massive datasets (multi-omics, metabolomics) with advanced AI and Machine Learning models to predict individual nutritional responses and develop personalized health interventions.

To achieve this, the platform brings together experts across biochemistry, bioinformatics, nutritional physiology, psychology, and microbiome science.

Employment Details for the Open Positions

All currently open PhD positions within the AIPN platform share the following employment framework:

• Duration of Contract: The employment duration is 4 years in total. The contract is initially limited to 1.5 years; however, the employment relationship is automatically extended to the full 4 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a non-extension declaration.
• Working Hours: 30 hours per week.
• Application Route: All applications must be submitted via the STEM Call: Doctoral Positions in the Life Sciences and Natural Sciences on the University of Vienna’s official recruitment portal.

Detailed Breakdown of the Open PhD Positions

We are currently recruiting PhD students to work with us in 5 distinct areas. While you are welcome to contact the individual supervisors via email with initial questions, your formal application must be submitted through the University’s recruitment portal.

Important: In your application documents, you must explicitly specify which topic and supervisor from the list below you are applying for.

Position 1: PhD topic in Multi-Omics, Metabolomics, and Clinical Studies

Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfram Weckwerth
Contact: wolfram.weckwerth(at)univie.ac.at

Your Tasks:

• Conduct advanced research within the AIPN framework, with a strong focus on personalized nutrition, multi-omics, and AI-based modeling.
• Design and perform nutritional intervention studies or laboratory experiments (tailored to your specific scientific background).
• Generate, process, and analyze complex metabolomics and other multi-omics datasets.
• Present your research results at international conferences and publish in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
• Supervise undergraduate and master’s students in the lab.
• Collaborate seamlessly within an interdisciplinary team, contributing to the conceptual development of next-generation nutrition research.

Your Profile:
The platform welcomes applicants from diverse scientific backgrounds. You should have a background in:

• Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or Systems Biology
• Nutrition Science, Food Science, or Public Health
• Metabolomics, Proteomics, or Microbiome Research
• Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, or AI
• Biomedical or Medical Sciences

What You Bring:

• A completed Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field.
• A strong interest in interdisciplinary research and a curiosity for complex biological systems and human health.
• High intrinsic motivation to work with multi-omics data, AI models, or human-centered research.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across different scientific disciplines.
• Scientific curiosity and a drive to innovate.

Position 2: PhD topic in Machine Learning for Personalized Nutrition

Supervisor: Ass.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Waldherr
Contact: steffen.waldherr(at)univie.ac.at

Your Tasks:

• Conduct computational research within the AIPN framework, concentrating on personalized nutrition, multi-omics, and AI-based modeling.
• Analyze complex metabolomics and other large-scale multi-omics datasets.
• Develop, train, and refine machine learning models specifically designed for predicting individual nutritional responses.
• Integrate diverse biochemical, behavioral, and computational data streams into cohesive predictive frameworks.
• Present research findings at academic conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
• Supervise students for laboratory projects and master’s theses.
• Collaborate actively within the interdisciplinary AIPN team to push the boundaries of computational nutrition research.

Your Profile:

• A completed Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant quantitative or life-science field, such as Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Systems Biology, Food Technology, Biotechnology, Computer Science, or Data Science.
• A profound interest in interdisciplinary research.
• Previous hands-on experience in machine learning, ideally applied to life science or biomedical datasets.
• A deep curiosity for understanding complex biological systems and improving human health.
• Excellent communication skills to bridge the gap between computational and biological sciences.
• High intrinsic motivation and scientific curiosity.

Position 3: PhD topic in Nutritional Physiology and Personalized Nutrition

Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Wagner
Contact: karl-heinz.wagner(at)univie.ac.at

Your Tasks:

• Conduct in-depth physiological research within the AIPN framework, focusing on personalized nutrition, multi-omics, and AI-based modeling.
• Design, coordinate, and execute nutritional intervention studies or relevant laboratory experiments (depending on your specific background and expertise).
• Generate, process, and analyze metabolomics and subsequent multi-omics datasets derived from human or biological samples.
• Disseminate your research through presentations at international conferences and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Act as a mentor and supervisor for junior students.
• Work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary environment to shape the conceptual development of next-generation nutrition science.

Your Profile:

• A completed Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Nutritional Sciences, Physiology, Biomedical Sciences, or a closely related field.
• Strong methodological skills in designing clinical or dietary intervention studies.
• An eagerness to integrate physiological data with AI and multi-omics approaches.
• Excellent teamwork and communication abilities.

Additional Open Positions within the AIPN Platform

In addition to the three detailed profiles above, the AIPN platform is also actively recruiting PhD candidates for two other vital pillars of the personalized nutrition ecosystem. Interested candidates are highly encouraged to contact the respective supervisors for detailed task descriptions and profiles before applying through the portal.

Position 4: PhD topic in Psychology and Behavioral Science

• Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Laura König
• Focus: Understanding the behavioral, psychological, and cognitive factors that drive dietary choices and adherence to personalized nutritional interventions.

Position 5: PhD topic in Microbiome Science

• Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. David Berry
• Focus: Investigating the human gut microbiome, its interaction with dietary inputs, and its role as a massive variable in individual metabolic responses, utilizing advanced sequencing and bioinformatics.

How to Apply: The STEM Call

The application process for all 5 of these PhD positions is centralized through the University of Vienna’s official recruitment platform.

Step-by-Step Application Guide:

1. Prepare Your Documents: Ensure you have an updated CV, a tailored motivation letter, your Master’s degree certificates/transcripts, and contact details for academic references.
2. Specify Your Topic: In your motivation letter and application documents, you must explicitly state which of the 5 topics and which supervisor you are applying to work with.
3. Contact Supervisors (Optional but Recommended): Initial applications and inquiries by email directly to Prof. Weckwerth, Prof. Waldherr, Prof. Wagner, Prof. König, or Prof. Berry are welcome to gauge fit and ask specific questions.
4. Submit Formally: You must submit your official application through the STEM Call: Doctoral Positions in the Life Sciences and Natural Sciences.

Official Application Link:
Apply Here via the University of Vienna Job Portal – STEM Call
(Please search for “STEM Call: Doctoral Positions in the Life Sciences and Natural Sciences” on the portal to submit your application directly).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is the PhD program taught in English or German?
Research at the PhD level in the Life Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Computational Sciences at the University of Vienna is conducted entirely in English. You do not need to be fluent in German to apply, work in the lab, or write your thesis. However, learning some basic German will be helpful for daily life in Vienna!

2. I have a background in Computer Science, not Biology. Can I still apply?
Absolutely. The AIPN platform is fundamentally interdisciplinary. Position 2 (Machine Learning for Personalized Nutrition) specifically requires a strong computational/data science background. The platform relies on computer scientists to build the AI models that biologists and nutritionists will use.

3. What does “30 hours per week” mean for a PhD student?
In the Austrian academic system, a 30-hour per week contract is standard for early-stage PhD researchers. It guarantees a structured salary and benefits. While your official employment contract is for 30 hours, PhD candidates dedicate their time fully to their academic and research advancement, often treating the PhD as a full-time endeavor encompassing both their employment duties and their personal academic development.

4. When is the deadline to apply?
Positions funded through the STEM call are highly competitive and are often reviewed on a rolling basis until filled. It is highly recommended that you reach out to the individual supervisors via email immediately and submit your formal application through the portal as soon as your documents are ready.

Take the Next Step in Your Research Career

The future of healthcare and nutrition is personalized, data-driven, and powered by artificial intelligence. By joining the AIPN research platform at the University of Vienna, you will be at the absolute forefront of this scientific revolution.

Do not miss the chance to earn your PhD while living in the heart of Europe, enjoying an exceptional quality of life, and working alongside world-renowned experts in multi-omics, machine learning, and human physiology. Prepare your application and apply today!