The University of Copenhagen’s Department of Computer Science and Pioneer Centre for AI invite applications for a fully funded PhD fellowship in Trustworthy Natural Language Processing (NLP), starting March 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is supervised by Assistant Professor Pepa Atanasova and co-supervised by Professor Isabelle Augenstein, both leading researchers in the CopeNLU group. The research will focus on developing innovative methods for trustworthy NLP models, including mechanistic interpretability, explainability, reasoning, factuality, safety mechanisms, and practical applications of trustworthy AI. The specific research direction will be tailored in collaboration with the successful candidate to align with their interests and the group’s goals. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field, strong English skills, and ideally experience in ML or NLP. The fellowship offers a vibrant, international research environment, with opportunities for collaboration, teaching, and knowledge dissemination. The position is fully funded for three years, with competitive salary and social benefits. The application deadline is 31 October 2025. To apply, submit all required documents via the official application portal. The University of Copenhagen is ranked among the top institutions for NLP research and offers an excellent quality of life in Denmark, one of the world’s happiest countries. The CopeNLU group is known for its collaborative and inclusive atmosphere, supporting diverse research interests in NLP and AI.

The University of Copenhagen's CopeNLU group is recruiting several PhD students for fully funded fellowships in Natural Language Processing (NLP), focusing on Explainable Natural Language Understanding and Trustworthy NLP. The group is internationally recognized, ranked 2nd in Europe for NLP research, and offers a vibrant, collaborative environment with strong ties to the Pioneer Centre for AI. The Explainable NLU fellowship is part of the ERC-funded ExplainYourself project, aiming to develop methods for explainable and robust automatic fact checking, with supervision by Isabelle Augenstein and co-supervision by Pepa Atanasova. The Trustworthy NLP fellowship, supervised by Pepa Atanasova and co-supervised by Isabelle Augenstein, focuses on developing innovative methods for trustworthy NLP models, including interpretability, reasoning, factuality, and safety mechanisms. Both positions require candidates to have completed a Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field by the start date, with strong English skills and relevant research experience. The fellowships are fully funded for three years, including a competitive salary, social benefits, and support for research activities. Open-topic PhD positions are also available via the ELLIS PhD programme, with support for external funding applications. The application deadline for all positions is 31 October 2025, with a start date in Spring or Autumn 2026. Applicants should submit a cover letter, research statement, CV, diplomas, transcripts, publication list, and reference letters. The CopeNLU group offers a diverse and inclusive atmosphere, regular meetings, and opportunities for international collaboration. Copenhagen provides a high quality of life, excellent research infrastructure, and a welcoming environment for international students.

The Natural Language Understanding Research group at the Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, is recruiting for a fully funded PhD and a postdoc position on the interdisciplinary project “Human-Centered Explainable Retrieval-Augmented LLMs.” This project is funded by the Independent Research Foundation Denmark and led by Professor Isabelle Augenstein and Irina Shklovski. The research focuses on explanation steering for human-centric retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and user-centric information needs in AI interactions, combining expertise in Natural Language Processing, Explainable AI, and Human-Computer Interaction. The PhD position is open to candidates with a Master’s degree or equivalent in Computer Science or a related field, with a strong background in machine learning or NLP. The postdoc position requires a PhD in Computer Science or a relevant discipline, with experience at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction and NLP. Both roles involve collaboration with the CopeNLU group and external partners in information retrieval. Both positions are fully funded for three years. The PhD student will be supervised by Isabelle Augenstein and co-supervised by Irina Shklovski, while the postdoc will work closely with both supervisors and the broader project team. The University of Copenhagen offers a vibrant research environment, with the NLP section and the Pioneer Centre for Artificial Intelligence providing ample opportunities for academic growth and interdisciplinary collaboration. The application deadline is 1 February 2026, with an expected start date of 1 September 2026. Interested candidates should apply online via the University of Copenhagen’s application portal. For more information, contact Professor Isabelle Augenstein at [email protected] or visit her academic page. Keywords: Natural Language Processing, Explainable AI, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, Human-Computer Interaction, Machine Learning, Information Retrieval, Artificial Intelligence.