PhD student in Algorithmic Foundations of AI-assisted Consensus and Ranking KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden

PhD student in Algorithmic Foundations of AI-assisted Consensus and Ranking at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.

This doctoral project sits within Computer Science and focuses on developing algorithms for selecting and ranking content by crowd consensus using only interaction data, without editorial discretion. The research is positioned at the intersection of algorithmic foundations, social choice theory, axiomatic approaches, and human-AI collaboration, with clear relevance to online social-network platforms and content moderation.

The position is part of the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP), Sweden’s major national research initiative in AI, autonomous systems, and software. WASP’s graduate school offers a multi-disciplinary and international environment, including research visits, partner universities, and visiting lecturers, which is especially valuable for students aiming to build a strong research profile in AI-related foundational methods.

Funding: This PhD position is funded by WASP and follows KTH’s doctoral student salary agreement. The employment is a temporary full-time doctoral position, with the standard KTH doctoral employment framework applying.

Eligibility highlights: Applicants must be admitted to postgraduate education and should hold or be about to receive a Master of Science degree in computer science, machine learning, AI, data science, or a related area. A strong mathematical background is specifically encouraged. English proficiency equivalent to English B/6 is mandatory. KTH also emphasizes strong academic credentials, particularly excellence in coursework or relevant projects, together with personal qualities such as independence, collaboration, professionalism, perseverance, and the ability to handle complex problems.

Supervisor: Prof. Aristides Gionis.

Application window: Published 2026-09-09; last application date 2026-09-29 at 23:59 Stockholm time.

How to apply: Apply via KTH’s recruitment system and submit the required documents: diplomas and grade transcripts, proof of language requirements, CV, a motivation/application letter, and representative publications or technical reports. KTH asks applicants to ensure the application is complete and to provide abstracts and web links for longer documents.

Overall, this is a strong opportunity for candidates interested in the theoretical and algorithmic foundations of AI systems, especially those working at the boundary of computation, collective decision-making, and trustworthy content ranking.