The University of Bergen, in partnership with Adhera Health SL (Spain), invites applications for a PhD Research Fellow position focused on Multimodal Large Language Models for Patient-Generated Data in Shared Decision Making, as part of the ENDOTRAIN Doctoral Network (DC7). This prestigious opportunity is funded by the European Commission through the MSCA Doctoral Network Endotrain and coordinated by the University of Bergen, Norway. The successful candidate will be enrolled in the structured PhD programme at UiB and based in Spain, with a start date no later than August 2026 and a duration of three years.

ENDOTRAIN is Europe’s first doctoral network in digital endocrinology, integrating artificial intelligence, sensor technology, omics, and clinical medicine to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of adrenal diseases. The programme aims to train a new generation of interdisciplinary experts who merge clinical endocrinology, AI, data science, engineering, ethics, and law into an integrated field of digital endocrinology. The focus is on adrenal disorders as a case study for advancing digital health in Europe.

The PhD project, part of Work Package 2 – Technologies for Multimodal Data, will advance the development of multimodal Large Language Models (LLMs) for integrating time-series physiological data, clinical assessments, and natural language summaries in the context of endocrine disorders, with a particular emphasis on adrenal insufficiency. Key research tasks include designing and evaluating multimodal AI architectures that combine wearable-derived time-series signals, structured clinical data, and patient-generated language reports; exploring advanced fusion strategies for integrating heterogeneous modalities into context-aware clinical decision support systems; and creating visual and language-based representations of complex patient data to support shared decision making between patients, caregivers, and clinicians.

The project involves participatory research with approximately 40 patients living with adrenal insufficiency, utilizing surveys, interviews, and workshops. The candidate will be expected to produce publishable contributions at the intersection of AI, Human-Computer Interaction, and Digital Health, targeting top-tier venues such as AAAI, ACL, NeurIPS, ICML, ACM CHI, and ICHI. Ethical, explainable, and responsible deployment of multimodal LLMs in the management of endocrine diseases is a core component of the research.

Secondments are planned at UiB (Norway) for patient and caregiver interviews and integration of multimodal datasets, Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) for development and evaluation of tailored self-reporting and visualization interfaces, and University Hospital Zurich (Switzerland) for advanced analysis of patient-reported outcomes and integration with multimodal AI approaches.

Applicants must hold an MSc (or equivalent) in Mathematics, Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, Engineering, or Medical Engineering, with strong expertise in AI, machine learning, and NLP. Experience with multimodal learning, strong programming skills (Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow), and a demonstrated coding portfolio (GitHub link) are required. Excellent written and spoken English is essential. Compliance with the MSCA mobility rule is mandatory. Desirable qualifications include experience with LLMs, multimodal fusion, explainable AI, digital health or clinical datasets, publication record or aspiration, and interest in responsible AI and patient-centered healthcare innovation.

The position offers a competitive salary according to MSCA/national regulations, full social security coverage in the host country, and a dedicated budget for travel, training, and secondments. The programme provides excellent opportunities for international networking, cross-sector collaboration, and career development.

Applications must be submitted via the Jobbnorge portal, including all mandatory attachments from the ENDOTRAIN webpages: application form, CV, mobility declaration, and motivation letter. Eligibility criteria must be met, and documentation of the master's degree provided. If the degree is pending, a statement confirming the expected award date is required. For informal inquiries, contact Dr. Luis Fernandez-Luque at Adhera Health SL.

Diversity and inclusion are core values of the MSCA-Endotrain programme, with a gender equality plan and encouragement for women, people with immigrant backgrounds, and people with disabilities to apply. The MSCA Doctoral Networks aim to train creative, entrepreneurial, and resilient doctoral candidates, raising the attractiveness and excellence of doctoral training in Europe.