Fully Funded PhD & Postdoc Positions in AI and Machine Learning – ELLIS Institute Finland

Position Snapshot

• Institution: ELLIS Institute Finland, in partnership with Finnish universities (including Aalto University, University of Helsinki, and others)

• Level: Doctoral Student (PhD) and Postdoctoral Researcher, including an optional Entrepreneurial Postdoc track

• Location: Finland (Otaniemi, Espoo, and the wider ELLIS community across Finnish partner universities)

• Research areas: All areas of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields — theoretical, applied, or both, including data-efficient probabilistic machine learning, generative modelling, amortized inference, interactive and cooperative machine learning, and AI for Health

• Duration: Postdoc positions typically up to three years; doctoral student positions typically four years

• Application deadline: 21 September 2026, 23:59 EEST (UTC+3)

• How to apply: Online application portal (links below)

About the Position

ELLIS Institute Finland, a rapidly expanding research hub in AI and machine learning, is inviting applications for postdoctoral researcher and doctoral student positions. Applications are welcomed across all subfields of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related disciplines, with research that can be theoretical, applied, or span both.

Successful candidates will join the groups of experienced supervisors, with a strong balance of independence and guidance, and the opportunity to pursue ambitious, high-impact research within a cooperative, multidisciplinary environment.

Research Environment

• Cutting-edge computational resources, including EuroHPC LUMI — one of the world's fastest and greenest supercomputers — and an upcoming pan-European AI-optimized supercomputer (LUMI AI Factory)

• Close collaborations with other leading machine learning researchers in Europe and globally, through the wider ELLIS network

• A broad range of possibilities to work with companies and startups, fostering innovation and real-world applications of AI

• An inclusive, international workplace, with English as the working language

Job Details

• Positions are based within ELLIS Institute Finland and the wider ELLIS community in Finland

• All positions are fully funded, with salaries based on the Finnish universities' pay scale

• Postdoc positions are typically offered for up to three years; doctoral student positions for four years

• Starting dates are flexible and agreed individually

Who We Are

ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems) is a major European initiative in AI, with a mission to strengthen Europe's AI landscape by connecting top researchers, attracting talent, and fostering strategic collaborations. It operates as a multi-centric, pan-European AI Lab spanning 47 research sites.

ELLIS Institute Finland, launched in 2025, is the second institute in the ELLIS network, partnering with Finnish universities. The institute focuses on the fundamentals of applied AI — making machine learning more widely and effectively applicable, and better at working with people — with AI for Health as one of its first strategic focus areas, spearheaded by a project to build a nationwide healthcare foundation model.

Applicants work with roughly 50 institute faculty and the wider ELLIS community in Finland, and are asked to indicate in their application which supervisor(s) they would like to work with.

Required Qualifications

• A Master's degree (for doctoral student applicants) or a PhD degree (for postdoc applicants), or the expectation of shortly receiving one, in computer science, statistics, electrical engineering, mathematics, or a related field

• Previous experience in machine learning, statistics, artificial intelligence, or a related field — demonstrated by strong performance in relevant studies (doctoral applicants) and/or a publication record in top-tier venues (postdoc applicants); other merits demonstrating suitability can also be considered

• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary environment

• Excellent command of written and spoken English

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically. The call closes on 21 September 2026 at 23:59 EEST (UTC+3).

Required documents (in English, PDF format):

1. Cover letter (1–2 pages)

2. CV

3. List of publications, highlighting up to five key papers with links (postdoc applicants; PhD applicants if applicable)

4. Transcript of PhD and MSc studies (postdoc applicants) or MSc and BSc studies (doctoral applicants)

5. Degree certificate of your latest degree — if not yet completed, a plan of completion must be submitted

6. Contact details of 2–3 senior academics who can provide references

Apply for postdoc and doctoral student positions: https://www.ellisinstitute.fi/postdoc-and-phd-recruit-autumn-2026

The Entrepreneurial Postdoc Track

Alongside the academic call, ELLIS Institute Finland is launching a new program for entrepreneurial postdocs, with the first cohort expected to start in early 2027. This track is designed for recent PhDs who want to turn breakthrough AI research into a competitive advantage for a startup — for instance in AI4Science.

The program combines world-class AI research with a structured approach to venture creation, giving postdocs access to leading faculty, entrepreneurial and investment expertise, experienced founders, and Europe's deep-tech ecosystem. Venture creation is a core outcome, with the path to company formation shaped by the maturity of the underlying technology.

Potential Research & Venture Directions

• AI for health — building on the institute's nationwide healthcare foundation model initiative

• Amortized inference and experimental design — accelerating design-build-test-learn loops across sciences and industry

• Continually learning and self-improving AI — agents that adapt reliably and safely over long-term deployment

• Personalized AI decision assistants — combining cognitive science with machine learning

• Other areas of interest include AI4Science, reinforcement learning, trustworthy AI, and world models

Who Should Apply

• Researchers within three years of completing their PhD

• Candidates with outstanding research potential

• Those excited by turning cutting-edge research and technology into real-world ventures, with the ambition to build a company where the underlying breakthrough provides a competitive advantage

Position Details

• Fully funded, with salaries based on the Finnish universities' pay scale for postdocs

• Contracts typically offered for two years

• Employment contracts issued by Aalto University or the University of Helsinki

Apply for the entrepreneurial postdoc track: https://www.ellisinstitute.fi/entrepreneurial-postdoc-recruit-autumn-2026

Note: candidates interested in both tracks are welcome to apply to each, but must submit a separate application for every call.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

These positions offer:

• Access to cutting-edge computational infrastructure, including EuroHPC LUMI and the upcoming pan-European LUMI AI Factory

• The chance to work within ambitious, high-impact projects alongside roughly 50 institute faculty and the wider ELLIS network

• Close collaboration with the ELLIS pan-European AI community, spanning 47 research sites across Europe

• For postdocs with entrepreneurial ambitions, a rare structured pathway from frontier AI research to venture creation, backed by mentorship in both science and company-building

• A base in Finland, repeatedly ranked the happiest country in the world, with a strong deep-tech and startup ecosystem and excellent quality of life

For candidates passionate about machine learning research — whether pursuing an academic career or aiming to build a startup around their science — this is a distinctive opportunity to join one of Europe's newest and fastest-growing AI research hubs.

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