PhD positions in AI in Medicine
The Department of Computer Science (DIKU) at the University of Copenhagen is offering fully funded PhD positions in AI in Medicine, with a focus on cancer treatment and medical image analysis. This project is a collaboration between DIKU and Rigshospitalet, financed by the European Research Council, and aims to advance the use of artificial intelligence in medical diagnostics, treatment planning, and outcome prediction. The research will address critical challenges in cancer care, such as minimizing radiation-induced toxicities and improving the precision of radiotherapy by leveraging AI to analyze anatomical subregions of human organs.
PhD candidates will work closely with the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Department of Radiology at Rigshospitalet, integrating multimodal data from imaging, clinical reports, and treatment information. The project also explores modelling clinician behaviour (e.g., eye-tracking analysis) and developing broadly applicable AI techniques for healthcare. The IMAGE section at DIKU, which specializes in medical image analysis, machine learning, and computer vision, will host the research. The section collaborates with clinical and industrial partners to ensure practical applicability and impact.
Supervision will be provided by Dr. Bulat Ibragimov (Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science) and Professor Ivan Richter Vogelius (Department of Radiation Oncology). PhD candidates are expected to spend three months at a collaborating research institution, fostering international research experience. The positions offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international environment.
Applicants can pursue the PhD through two routes: the regular three-year programme (for those with a relevant master’s degree) or the integrated MSc and PhD programme (up to five years, for those with a relevant bachelor’s degree and eligibility for a master’s programme at the Faculty of SCIENCE). Both routes require strong academic qualifications in computer science, mathematics, biomedical engineering, or related fields, proficiency in software development and machine learning, and good language skills. Application materials must include a motivated letter, CV, diplomas, transcripts, publication list, and reference letters, all in English.
Funding is provided by the European Research Council, with salary and terms in accordance with Danish Ministry of Finance and AC agreement. The integrated programme includes state education grant portions (SU-klip) plus salary for work until the MSc is obtained, followed by a salary-earning scholarship for two years. The application deadline is 17 May 2026, 23:59 (CET). Applications must be submitted electronically via the provided link. For further information, visit the PhD School’s website or contact the supervisors directly.
This opportunity is ideal for motivated candidates seeking to advance AI in medicine, contribute to cancer research, and develop innovative machine learning solutions in a collaborative and international setting.
