PhD Research Fellow in AI-based Virtual Twins for Monitoring, Disease Classification, and Decision Support in Clinical Practice (ENDOTRAIN, DC13) Sapienza University of Rome in Italy

This PhD Research Fellow position in AI-based virtual twins for monitoring, disease classification, and decision support in clinical practice (DC13) is offered at the Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network ENDOTRAIN. The project is funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the University of Bergen, Norway. The successful candidate will join a structured PhD programme in Computer Science and participate in a pan-European network focused on digital endocrinology, integrating artificial intelligence, sensor technology, omics, and clinical medicine to advance diagnosis and treatment of adrenal diseases.

The research will develop novel AI-based methods and software to assist physicians in disease classification, treatment decision support, and what-if analyses, with a special emphasis on endocrinology and adrenal disorders. The project is part of Work Package 3 (Trustworthy Data and Models) and involves developing hybrid data-driven and model-based AI methods to analyze clinical time series data from sensors, enriched by human patho-physiology models. Key activities include phenotype classification, disease probability estimation, anomaly detection, and early diagnosis.

The candidate will learn and apply a broad portfolio of methods at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, numerical simulation, and formal verification. Techniques include AI-guided simulation of mathematical models, black-box optimization, synthesis of virtual twins, synthetic data generation, statistical model checking, and machine learning-based classification and regression. The position also involves software and prototype model development.

Secondments are expected at partner institutions: the University of Bergen (Norway) for pathophysiological model analysis, and the University of Ulm (Germany) for developing clinical data acquisition interfaces and personalized disease classification tools. The programme offers excellent opportunities for international networking, industry exposure, and career development.

Applicants must hold a master's degree (or equivalent) in computer science or a related field, with skills in software design, high-level programming, and both symbolic and data-driven AI. English fluency is required. Candidates must not have resided in Italy for more than 12 months in the past 36 months before the PhD start date and must not already hold a doctoral degree. Diversity and inclusion are prioritized, with encouragement for women, people with immigrant backgrounds, and people with disabilities to apply.

The position provides an attractive salary according to MSCA regulations: €3821.53/month living allowance, €710/month mobility allowance, and €660/month family allowance (if applicable), subject to Italian tax and social security deductions. The application deadline is 15th February 2026, and the latest start date is August 2026. Applications must be submitted via the Jobbnorge portal, including all mandatory attachments. For further details, visit the programme webpage or contact Prof. Toni Mancini.