Maynooth University is offering fifteen fully funded PhD positions through the prestigious John & Pat Hume Doctoral Awards for the 2026-2027 academic year. These positions are open to candidates interested in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and their applications in music, particularly Music Information Retrieval and Modelling. The opportunity is hosted by Behnam Faghih, Assistant Professor / Lecturer in Computer Science at Maynooth University, whose research lab welcomes innovative research proposals in these areas.

The Hume Doctoral Awards are available across all disciplines at Maynooth University, but this specific call focuses on AI and music technology. The scholarship provides a generous package including a €25,000 annual stipend, €2,000 research expenses, and coverage of EU tuition fees for four years. Non-EU applicants may apply for a fee waiver. There is no application fee for this scholarship.

Applicants must contact Behnam Faghih with their CV and a research proposal related to AI and machine learning for music applications. It is essential to review all supporting documentation for the Hume Awards and to discuss your application with the supervisor. An academic reference from the Maynooth University supervisor is required to complete the application. The application portal opens on December 1, 2025, and the deadline for submission is January 23, 2026, at 11:45pm (GMT).

For more information and to access the application documents, visit the official Maynooth University Hume Doctoral Awards page. This is an excellent opportunity for students passionate about AI, machine learning, and music technology to pursue doctoral research in a supportive and well-funded environment.