Cluster of Excellence – Machine Learning for Science

Open positions

Currently there are several positions to be filled.

Research Position as PhD Student
Department of Computer Science (w/m/d, E13 TV-L, 75%)

Prof. Dr. Nico Pfeifer’s Chair for Methods in Medical Informatics, Department of Computer Science at the University of Tübingen, distinguished as excellent by the Federal Government of Germany, is inviting applications for a

3-year Research Position as a Ph.D. Student
(w/m/d, E13 TV-L, 75%)

starting on 15th September 2026 or as soon as possible.

The position

The position is available within a multidisciplinary effort to develop new machine learning-based techniques for Natural Products Genome Mining at the Cluster of Excellence Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI).

As a researcher, you will be welcomed at Pfeifer Lab and a vibrant campus environment in charming Tübingen. We have extensive knowledge at the interface between statistical machine learning, digital medicine, and computational biology, and plenty of collaboration opportunities beyond international borders. Prof. Nico Pfeifer is a member of the Cluster of Excellence Machine Learning: New Perspectives for Science, a PI in the Cluster of Excellence Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, and a faculty member of the International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems.

Your Responsibilities

  • develop and extend ML-based methods for Genome Mining
  • collaborate closely with colleagues in machine learning, genome mining and infection biology
  • present findings in peer-reviewed publications and international conferences

Your Profile

  • a university degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in Machine Learning, Bioinformatics, Medical Informatics, Computer Science, or a related discipline
  • strong programming/scripting skills (Python, R, C++, Java) and knowledge of ML frameworks (PyTorch, etc.)
  • a keen interest in interdisciplinary teamwork
  • proficiency in English
  • experience in Data Science, Machine Learning or Statistics
  • experience in the analysis of high-throughput data (multi-omics)
  • experience with Vibe Coding is a plus
  • experience in Chemistry is a plus

Our Offer

  • cutting-edge research at a highly renowned university,
  • collegial work atmosphere,
  • remuneration in accordance with the TV-L (collective agreement for public employees of the German federal states) as well as all corresponding benefits,
  • international collaboration opportunities,
  • local & global networking opportunities incl. conferences, workshops, summer schools, etc.
  • 30 days/year of paid vacation,
  • life and family-friendly work conditions,
  • career mentoring,
  • visa and onboarding assistance,
  • access to sports facilities, libraries, discounted public transportation, etc.

We value diversity in science, and particularly look forward to receiving applications from women, non-binary people and researchers from underrepresented groups across cultures, genders, ethnicities, and lifestyles. We actively promote the compatibility of science, work, professional development, family life and care work. In case of equal qualification and experience, physically challenged applicants are given preference.

How to apply

Please email your application (including your motivation letter, curriculum vitae, certificates, and contact details of 2 academic references) with the subject “Application CMFI PhD” to Prof. Dr. Nico Pfeifer: mm-coordinator@inf.uni-tuebingen.de. 

Application deadline: 6th July 2026.

Several open PhD and Post-Doc positions (m/f/d)
Mario Krenn

Our group builds artificial intelligence systems for discovering new concepts, experiments and ideas in physics. To accelerate this effort, we need your help! We have

several fully-funded open PhD and Post-Doc positions (m/f/d)

at the University of Tübingen, one of Europe’s most vibrant hub for artificial intelligence research. 

A list of concrete potential projects:

  • Development of modern auto-differentiation (JAX-based) physics simulators for the discovery of new physics experiments (example here)
  • AI-driven discovery of hardware for some of the most thought after quantum information technology, quantum-enhanced microscopes and telescopes (example here), and AI-driven discovery of new physics experiments to test quantum-gravity and observe gravitational waves (examples here and here)
  • Developing and testing state-of-the-art AI-driven exploration, optimization, and search algorithms in extremely complex and enormously large spaces motivated by physics and chemistry
  • Agentic frameworks (e.g. LLMs with tool-use) for closed-loop idea generation for physics (example here)

Other projects are certainly possible too. In general, we believe that building autonomous scientific systems is not just a technical question, but requires understanding and insights from the philosophy of science – see e.g. here.

If you are excited to use artificial intelligence techniques for scientific discoveries in physics, send us your application, including a CV, a short motivation letter, the names & contact of two potential references to mario.krennspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de. The opening will remain valid until 15.07.2026.

PhD positions will be for a duration of 3 years, post-doc positions will be for 2 years.

Requirements: Master/Bachelor in Physics, Computer Science or related fields (for PhD); Doctorate in Physics, Computer Science or related fields (for Post-Docs).

The positions are funded via the Cluster of Excellence (Machine Learning for Science), the ERC Starting Grant ArtDisQ and the University of Tübingen. Salary will be determined according to the German collective wage agreement in public service (E 13 TV-L). The University aims to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching and therefore urges suitable qualified women scientists to apply. Qualified international researchers are expressly invited to apply. Disabled candidates will be given preference over other equally qualified applicants. The university is committed to equal opportunities and diversity. It therefore takes individual situations into account and asks for relevant information. The employment will be handled by the central administration of the University of Tübingen.

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