The Helmholtz ELLIS PhD Programme in AI brings together the strengths of Helmholtz and ELLIS to support doctoral researchers working at the intersection of cutting-edge AI methods and scientific applications.
The Helmholtz ELLIS PhD Programme in AI is a new joint initiative by Helmholtz and ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems). Through this pilot programme, the Helmholtz Association and ELLIS are strengthening cooperation in doctoral training and advancing excellence in AI- and data-driven research. Designed as an overlay to existing doctoral positions, the programme connects researchers across institutions and disciplines, combining ELLIS’s pan-European network for cutting-edge machine learning research, joint supervision, and international exchange with Helmholtz’s mission-oriented research landscape, unique scientific infrastructures, complex datasets, and interdisciplinary research challenges.
Participating doctoral researchers benefit from access to both the ELLIS and Helmholtz communities, as well as mobility support through HIDA for research stays at international partner institutions, fostering scientific exchange, collaboration, and network building.
In addition, participants can take part in a broad range of training opportunities offered by both ELLIS and HIDA, including courses, summer schools, workshops, and community events. Together, Helmholtz AI, HIDA, and ELLIS are initiating a joint doctoral training framework that connects AI research excellence with mission-driven scientific applications, fostering a new generation of researchers capable of advancing data-driven solutions to pressing scientific and societal challenges.
The first recruitment round of the pilot programme is planned for autumn 2026. Further information on the application process, eligibility criteria, and participating principal investigators will be published in late summer 2026.
