PhD Position in Probabilistic and Neuro-Symbolic AI (m/f/d)

Organisation/Company

Graz University of Technology

Department

Institute of Machine Learning and Neural Computation

Research Field

Computer science

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Application Deadline

31 May 2026 - 23:00 (UTC)

Country

Austria

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Offer Starting Date

1 Jul 2026

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Reference Number

7080 / 2026 / 9291

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Your Responsibilities

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student in the areas of Probabilistic Machine Learning and Neuro-Symbolic AI to contribute to the Cluster of Excellence “Bilateral AI (BilAI),” funded by the Austrian Science Fund. The successful candidate will be based at the Institute of Machine Learning and Neural Computation (IML) at Graz University of Technology and will work toward a PhD thesis on combining symbolic reasoning with modern machine learning to create intelligent systems that can learn, adapt, and reason across domains. As a PhD researcher, you will collaborate with leading scientists across Austria in an interdisciplinary environment spanning explainable AI, causality, knowledge representation, and neural networks.

Research (90%)

• research in probabilistic machine learning and neuro-symbolic AI (e.g. neural nets, logic circuits and probabilistic circuits)
• publishing papers in leading AI/ML conferences and journals
• working towards a PhD thesis in AI/ML
• collaboration with project partners within BilAI
• supervision of Bachelor and Master projects

Administrative Duties (10%)

• organizational and administrative duties, project management

Teaching (optional)

• if desired, the successful candidate can contribute to teaching activities in the group (e.g., machine learning, probabilistic decision making)

For your application, please submit:

• a brief motivation letter (max 1 page)
• your CV (including a list of publications, if available)
• transcript of records
• recommendation letters, if available (max 3)
• writing samples (max 3), e.g. Master thesis, reports or published papers

Your Profile

• strong background in machine learning/artificial intelligence
• experience in probabilistic machine learning
• experience in neuro-symbolic approaches

Admission Requirements

• Master in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics, or similar (if the Master is not yet completed, please submit a short statement by the supervisor concerning progress)
• excellent coding skills (Python, Julia, C++, etc.)
• excellent communication skills
• excellent English skills

We Offer

• Interesting area of responsibility

• Collegial and friendly working atmosphere

• Flexible working schedule (e.g. possibility for home office, paid lunch break - depending on working hours)

• International training and teaching opportunities

• Seal of quality for in-house advancement of women

• Award for being the most family-friendly company in Styria 2018

• Subsidy for public transport

• University’s sports program

• Shopping Discounts

• Workplace Health Management

• Top research infrastructure and access to the latest technologies

• Exciting opportunities for professional and personal development

• Safe and stable working environment

• Company pension funds

We offer an annual gross salary of at least € 52,865.40 for a fulltime position. An overpayment based on qualification and experience is possible.

Equality Principle

Graz University of Technology aims to increase the proportion of women, in particular in management and academic staff, and therefore qualified female applicants are explicitly encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to women if applicants are equally qualified.

Graz University of Technology actively promotes diversity and equal opportunities. Applicants are not to be discriminated against in personnel selection procedures on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion or ideology, age, sexual orientation (Anti-discrimination).

People with disabilities and who have the relevant qualifications are expressly invited to apply.

Organisational Unit

The position is allocated to the Institute of Machine Learning and Neural Computation, within the Probabilistic Machine Learning Group (Assoc Prof Robert Peharz)

About us

Graz University of Technology is the longest-established university of technology in Austria. Here, successful teams of students, talented up-and-coming scientists, ambitious researchers and a lively start-up scene enjoy an inspirational environment as well as access to top-quality equipment. And all this in one of the most innovative and livable regions in Europe. TU Graz offers an inspiring working environment with outstanding infrastructure and service-oriented university management.

In this video, we give you an insight into the working environment at TU Graz: HERE

Contact

Assoc Prof Robert Peharz 

https://robert-peharz.github.io/

Please note that we only accept applications submitted via our online application portal. 

E-mail

robert.peharz@tugraz.at

Website

https://jobs.tugraz.at/en/jobs/65327df6-68d6-96c2-7557-69cbbc282385/apply

Research Field

Computer science

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Computer science

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

• Interesting area of responsibility

• Collegial and friendly working atmosphere

• Flexible working schedule (e.g. possibility for home office, paid lunch break - depending on working hours)

• International training and teaching opportunities

• Seal of quality for in-house advancement of women

• Award for being the most family-friendly company in Styria 2018

• Subsidy for public transport

• University’s sports program

• Shopping Discounts

• Workplace Health Management

• Top research infrastructure and access to the latest technologies

• Exciting opportunities for professional and personal development

• Safe and stable working environment

• Company pension funds

Website for additional job details

https://jobs.tugraz.at/en/jobs/65327df6-68d6-96c2-7557-69cbbc282385

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Institute of Machine Learning and Neural Computation

Country

Austria

City

GRAZ

Postal Code

A-8010

Street

Rechbauerstraße 12

Geofield

City

GRAZ

Website

https://www.tugraz.at

Street

Rechbauerstraße 12

Postal Code

A-8010

E-Mail

robert.peharz@tugraz.at

Phone

(+43) 316 873

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