PhD Position in Computer Science – AI and Cybersecurity at University of Klagenfurt

University of Klagenfurt, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Department of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, invites applications for a fully funded PhD position in the project “Automated Twin foR semiconductor mAnufacturing (ATRIA)”, funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency.

Application Deadline: March 29, 2026
Expected Start Date: April 1, 2026 (earlier start possible)
Employment Type: Full-time (40 hours/week), limited to 3 years
Annual Salary: €52,007.20 (gross)
Location: Klagenfurt, Austria
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Konstantin Schekotihin

Project Overview

The ATRIA project aims to optimize semiconductor manufacturing process flows using a hybrid AI approach:

• Symbolic methods: Ontologies and knowledge graphs for formalizing domain knowledge, heuristic search, and automated planning for optimal solutions.

• Subsymbolic methods: Deep learning and reinforcement learning to reduce knowledge acquisition complexity and improve solution search efficiency.

This project is part of the Austrian cluster of excellence “Bilateral Artificial Intelligence” and involves collaboration with Infineon Technologies Austria, SolidState.ai (Canada), and Research Studios Austria.

Responsibilities

• Conduct autonomous research in AI, publish articles, and complete a PhD dissertation

• Focus areas include:

  • Natural Language Processing (NLP) and large language models (LLMs) for knowledge graph construction and maintenance

  • Ontologies and knowledge graphs for storing and managing planning domain knowledge

  • Automated planning using PDDL for computation and verification of process flows

• Collaborate with industry partners to implement and evaluate proof-of-concept prototypes

• Contribute to administrative tasks and public relations activities

Eligibility & Requirements

Mandatory:

• Master’s degree in Computer Science or related field

• Strong background in ontologies, knowledge graphs, and NLP with deep learning

• Proficient in programming (Python) and at least one deep learning framework (PyTorch or TensorFlow)

• Fluent in English (written and spoken)

Desirable:

• Knowledge in automated planning, PDDL, and reinforcement learning

• Previous publications in relevant areas

• Ability to work in a diverse, multilingual team

• German language skills are not required initially but expected to be acquired during the PhD

Application Documents

Submit all documents in PDF format via email to [email protected]:

1. Motivation Letter (including research interests, relevant experience, contributions to publications, and optionally links to code repositories)

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. Bachelor’s and Master’s degree certificates and transcripts

4. Master’s thesis (or explanation if unavailable)

5. Contact details of three references

For specific inquiries:

• Dr. Konstantin Schekotihin: [email protected]

Employment & Benefits

• Part of a highly international and collaborative research environment

• Access to personal and professional development programs, career coaching, and management training

• Diversity- and family-friendly university culture

• Opportunity to live and work in the Alps-Adriatic region with rich cultural and recreational opportunities

The University encourages applications from women and individuals with disabilities, promoting diversity and equality in science.

This position provides a unique opportunity to advance AI applications in semiconductor manufacturing while working at the interface of symbolic and subsymbolic methods in a collaborative, international research setting.

Apply now at: https://jobboerse.aau.at/job/predoctoral-project-researcher-all-genders-welcome-2/