Research Associate / PhD Student in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig)
As part of Germany's national artificial intelligence strategy, the ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig (Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence) is expanding into a leading AI competence center for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. The center is jointly located at the University of Leipzig and TUD Dresden University of Technology, bringing together over 150 staff members at each site. ScaDS.AI offers a vibrant, multidisciplinary research environment within a structured graduate school focused on the fundamentals and applications of data science and artificial intelligence.
PhD students at ScaDS.AI engage in cutting-edge research across a broad spectrum of AI topics, including AI theory, hardware, mathematical foundations, applications, and societal aspects. The program is highly interdisciplinary, with opportunities to collaborate with partner organizations from both academia and industry. Students benefit from access to state-of-the-art technologies and outstanding high-performance computing infrastructure, supporting scalable AI research.
The position is offered by the Center for Interdisciplinary Digital Sciences (CIDS) and ScaDS.AI Dresden, and is suitable for candidates seeking part-time employment or balancing family and career. The employment is limited to three years, governed by the Fixed Term Research Contracts Act (WissZeitVG), and aims at obtaining further academic qualification (usually a PhD). The structured PhD program is designed to enable completion of a doctoral thesis within three years, with regular feedback, reading groups, summer schools, specialized courses, lecture series, and soft skill training. International orientation is emphasized, including guest programs for research stays abroad and mentoring by two principal investigators.
Applicants must hold an outstanding university degree (typically M.Sc.) in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field, with a good GPA and degree completed before July 2025. Strong programming skills and AI/ML knowledge are essential, along with good written and spoken English skills (CEFR level C1 or higher). Non-native speakers must provide proof of English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, CAE) not older than 12 months, unless exempted by prior education in Germany. Required application documents include a master certificate and transcript of records (with official translation if not in German or English), curriculum vitae (PDF), research statement (motivation and topics of interest, max 3 positions), and contact information for two references.
The position offers full funding according to salary group E 13 TV-L, with a minimum monthly gross salary of about 4,500 Euro (full time) for three years. The university is committed to diversity and family-friendly policies, and encourages applications from women and candidates with disabilities. If multiple candidates are equally qualified, those with disabilities or equivalent status will receive priority for employment.
Applications should be submitted as a single PDF file quoting job number w25-063 by January 5, 2026, preferably via the TUD SecureMail Portal or by email to Prof. Dr.-Wolfgang E. Nagel at [email protected]. For more information about available topics and supervisors, visit
scads.ai/positions2025
. Further details on data protection are available at
tu-dresden.de/karriere/datenschutzhinweis
.