The IDEAS Doctoral School — a joint program between UFZ, HZDR, Leipzig University, and TU Dresden that trains the next generation of data scientists working on real environmental and life-science problems.
5 PhD topics, 4 funded positions:
🌊 FloodLens — explainable deep learning + causal representation learning to forecast co-occurring floods and their atmospheric drivers
🌱 SoilCloudAI — graph-based AI to map soil-moisture–cloud feedback loops from satellite and climate-model data
🧬 TRACE-GBM — generative protein design + radiochemistry to build novel PET tracers for glioblastoma
🐝 SafeBEEP — graph AI on chemical reactions to predict how pollinator microbiomes break down pesticides
📈 DigitHealth — turning continuous metabolic sensing data (e.g. lactate) into digital biomarkers of tissue health via ML
Plus an Innovation Track for self-designed projects (with two co-supervisors, one from a Helmholtz centre, one from a university).
What's on offer:
Structured, interdisciplinary supervision (Thesis Advisory Committee, tailored curriculum, cohort activities)
Based in Leipzig or Dresden, mobile work possible
Full-time, 3-year contract (extendable to a 4th year)
Salary per TVöD public sector scale, up to pay grade 13
📅 Deadline: 26 July 2026
Full project details and application requirements on the IDEAS website.
Click to Apply
