We are looking for candidates for a three-year PhD scholarship that will be carried out at the Signals & Images (SI) Laboratory at CNR-ISTI.
The fellowship is associated with the PhD program in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Pisa and involves training and research in the areas of signal processing and trustworthy AI for computational biology. The specific PhD topic will be defined taking into account the candidate's background and research interests.
The rapid growth of genomic technologies has generated increasingly large and complex datasets, creating new computational challenges for the analysis and interpretation of biological information. In particular, understanding the three-dimensional organization of the genome and identifying meaningful patterns from high-dimensional genomic data require efficient algorithms, scalable computational methods, and advanced machine learning techniques.
This research focuses on the development of novel computational methodologies for genomic data analysis, combining optimization, signal processing, and trustworthy AI. Particular attention is devoted to the identification of hidden topological structures and biologically relevant patterns, supporting the study of genetic and oncological diseases through accurate, interpretable, and scalable computational models.
We welcome applications from motivated candidates with a passion for research and a solid background in numerical analysis and/or AI. Good programming skills and prior experience with computational genomics topics are an advantage, but they are not mandatory.
Pisa is a vibrant Tuscan city near the coast, offering an outstanding scientific and academic environment with three universities and numerous research centres, particularly active in applied mathematic and computer science. In this context, SI-Lab and CNR offer a multidisciplinary research environment where students can build upon the competencies acquired during their Master's studies, preparing either for an academic career or for highly specialized roles in computational biology, AI, and computer science.
The application procedure is available at
https://www.unipi.it/didattica/corsi/dottorati/bando2026-27/bando-b-2026-2027/
The deadline is 10 August 2026 at 13.00 Italian time.
The candidate should select the scholarship in Computer Science associated with the topic INFO09_B on “Metodi computazionali per la bioinformatica strutturale”.
Applicants must have earned a master degree by the end of October 2026.
The PhD fellowship will start on 1 November 2026
For more information, you can contact giulio.delcorso@isti.cnr.it