PhD Student

Digital Molecular Medicine

IT:U Doctoral School PhD Program COMPUTATIONAL X

3 PhD positions | 30h/week | Up to 4 years | On-site in Linz (AT) | Start Date: October 2026 | Principal Investigator: Professor Kristin Reiche

Field of Research & Scope

Prof. Kristin Reiche is seeking PhD candidates to join her research group to advance precision medicine by connecting biomedical data science, medical bioinformatics, (research) software engineering and advanced molecular diagnostic tools.

Her group focuses on digital transformation in molecular medicine through research in:

• machine learning for (single-cell) multi-omics and spatial cell biology,
• patient-individual in silico models for risk and pathogenesis prediction,
• molecular biomarker discovery and validation, and
• software engineering and interoperability for medical bioinformatics.

Her research particularly targets advanced medical therapies like adoptive cellular immunotherapies, developing innovative digital solutions to understand their mechanisms of action aiming to advance personalized treatment strategies.

We offer

• Collaborations: The group enjoys close collaborations with leading national and international research institutions. PhD students will participate in the EU-funded CERTAINTY project - A cellular immunotherapy virtual twin for personalised cancer treatment (www.certainty-virtualtwin.eu) and collaborate with our clinical partners in immuno-oncology and oncology. The lab also collaborates with researchers within IT:U and supports co-supervision with other IT:U founding professors.
• International mobility and exchange: Selected candidates will benefit from interactions with the PI's collaborators and colleagues in Europe and North America and will have access to international research networks in precision medicine and medical bioinformatics, opportunities to present research at leading international conferences, and potential research stays at international partner institutions, who are happy to host PhD students for short stays.
• Professional and personal development: Work in an innovative, interdisciplinary team at the intersection of data science, biomedicine, bioinformatics, molecular diagnostics and software engineering. Contribute to translational research with direct clinical impact. Develop and/or deepen your expertise in bioinformatics and machine learning for single-cell multi-omics, spatial transcriptomics, and biomarker development. Shape your research profile in digital molecular medicine.

Responsibilities & Tasks

• Conduct research
• Write and publish scientific papers
• Attend national and international conferences
• Collaborate with other research groups on an interdisciplinary basis
• Contribute to academic teaching (up to 2 weekly credit hours)
• Support the research group in preparing applications for third-party funding
• Comply with the institution’s academic standards and ethical guidelines

Skills & Qualifications needed

You must have completed a Master's degree (or equivalent) in computer science, bioinformatics, (computational) biological sciences, mathematics, physics, or other relevant fields.

Essential requirements:

• Solid foundation in machine learning (ML) and biomedical data science
• Good programming skills in Python and/or R, with familiarity with ML frameworks
• Experience with Unix/Linux environments and Git version control
• Understanding of fundamental concepts in genetics, molecular biology, and immunology
• Strong motivation to conduct cutting-edge research in digital molecular medicine
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills for interdisciplinary and international collaboration
• The ability to work and think independently
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) on minimum level CEFR C1

Preferred qualifications:

• Prior experience or coursework in bioinformatics or computational biology
• Hands-on experience with single-cell multi-omics and/or spatial transcriptomics data analysis
• Familiarity with deep learning frameworks (e.g. PyTorch, TensorFlow)

What you can expect

• Innovative and stimulating working conditions in an interdisciplinary, international research environment.
• Office kitchen with complimentary basic supplies.
• Austrian “KlimaTicket OÖ” (unlimited travel on all public transportation within Upper Austria).
• We offer a gross salary in line with the FWF of EUR 2.832,10 on a 30h basis.
• Optional supplementary contracts (teaching or research) to an extent of up to 10 hours may be discussed during the hiring process.

Program Structure

IT:U offers a 4-year, structured PhD program.
In the first year, emphasis is placed on focused group work, research lab modules, and Project Integrated Courses (PICS). The first year concludes with a PhD Proposal Presentation. Over the next three years, students will develop and write their PhD theses. This is accompanied by interdisciplinary research seminars and work as a project assistant. The PhD program concludes after the 4th year with the submission and defense of the PhD thesis.

How to apply

Please fill in the online application form and upload your files at:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Bachelor’s and master’s diploma (or equivalent)
• Bachelor’s and master’s transcript of records
• Motivational letter (1 page)
• Up to 3 contacts of professors/collaborators for recommendations

We look forward to receiving your online application.

The positions will remain open until filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply early, as review of applications will begin on a rolling basis. The call will close on 30.04.2026.