Doctoral student in models, algorithms, and optimization for machine learning

KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Stockholms kommun; On-site; SEK 357,120 - 401,760; Full time

Job summary

The KTH Royal Institute of Technology, in collaboration with NTU Singapore, invites applications for a fully funded PhD in machine learning. Successful candidates will pursue a joint degree, supervised by professors from both institutions, and spend at least 12 months at NTU in Singapore as part of the program.

Applicants should hold a Master of Science in a related field and demonstrate strong skills in algorithms, ML, and optimization, with a track record of high-quality research and results.

Qualifications

• Master of Science in computer science or a related field by enrollment.
• Strong programming and implementation skills in ML.
• Solid background in algorithms, machine learning, and optimization.
• Ability to publish and present high-quality research.
• English proficiency (equivalent to English B/6).

Responsibilities

• Pursue a PhD in machine learning at KTH and NTU.
• Complete minimum 12 months at NTU in Singapore.
• Conduct research on topics like graph mining, representation learning.
• Publish and present research results.
• Be supervised by listed professors Aristides Gionis, Sebastian Dalleiger and Kelly Ke Yiping.

Skills

Machine learning

Algorithms design

Optimization

Programming

Publish research

Education

Master of Science in Computer Science

Job description

Project description

Third-cycle subject: computer science

We invite applications from talented and highly motivated candidates to pursue a PhD in machine learning at KTH, Sweden, and NTU, Singapore. This is a fully funded, joint doctoral position that will lead to a joint PhD degree awarded by KTH and NTU. The successful candidate will be supervised by professor Aristides Gionis (KTH), associate professor Kelly Ke Yiping (NTU), and assistant professor Sebastian Dalleiger (KTH). The doctoral student will be recruited and formally enrolled at KTH, and will be required to spend a minimum of 12 months at NTU in Singapore as part of the joint program.

The research project is broadly situated in the field of machine learning. Potential research topics include, but are not limited to, algorithmic knowledge discovery, graph mining and social network analysis, optimization for machine learning, representation learning, and fair, accountable, and transparent machine learning.

Applicants must hold a Master of Science degree by the time of enrollment. Successful candidates should be highly self-motivated and committed to publishing and presenting high-quality research. Solid background in algorithms design, machine learning, and optimization is essential, along with strong programming and implementation skills.

Supervision: Aristides Gionis (KTH), Sebastian Dalleiger (KTH), Kelly Ke Yiping (NTU) is proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decisions are made on admission.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 a7 Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master''s degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work,
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyze and work with complex issues.
• Applicants must hold or be about to receive a Master of Science degree in computer science, machine learning, AI, data science, or a related area.
• Applicants must have strong academic credentials, demonstrated by excellence in course work or relevant projects.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

As a doctoral student, you are entitled to a workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH Dr and read more about Doctoral studies (PhD) | KTH | Sweden.

Union representatives

Contact information for union representatives.

Doctoral Student network (Students union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact information for PhD chapter.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must include the following elements:

• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified.
• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Other information

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

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Type of employment: Temporary position

Contract type: Full time

First day of employment: According to agreement

Salary: Monthly salary according to KTH's doctoral student salary agreement

Number of positions: 1

Full-time equivalent: 100%

City: Stockholm

County: Stockholms län

Country: Sweden

Reference number: PA-2026-1834

Contact:

1. Aristides Gionis, [e-mail]
2. Anna Olanås Jansson, [e-mail]

Published: 2026-06-04

Last application date: 2026-06-25

Fields: Algorithms, Machine Learning, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Computational Sciences