ELLIS PhD Program: Call for Applications 2026

The ELLIS PhD Program has opened its call for applications for 2027. Candidates can apply until October 31, 2026 (23:59 AoE) to join Europe's leading network of machine learning and AI researchers, working with two co-supervisors in different European countries. The program is funded by the EU Horizon programme through the ELIAS project.

31 Oct Application deadline, 2026

~200 Advisors expected

3 Program tracks

6+ Months of exchange

About the ELLIS PhD Program

The program pairs outstanding students with leading academic and industrial researchers across Europe, mainly in machine learning and related fields. Participants also benefit from networking and training opportunities such as summer schools and workshops.

Each student has two co-supervisors based in different European countries. The primary advisor is an ELLIS Fellow or Scholar, and the second is an ELLIS Fellow, Scholar, Unit Member or Member. Through the ELLIS/CIFAR partnership, joint supervision with a CIFAR fellow or Canadian AI Chair holder is also possible. Thanks to the collaboration with the Max Planck Artificial Intelligence Network (MP-AIX), candidates can apply to both programs.

Three tracks

Students complete an exchange of at least six months with their secondary advisor and choose one of three tracks. The specific requirements for each track are available on the program website.

Academic Track

AI/ML collaboration with an academic partner in another country, with at least six months spent visiting the secondary advisor.

Industry Track

AI/ML collaboration with an industry partner in Europe, with at least 50% of time at the academic partner and at least six months with the industry partner.

Interdisciplinary Track

Cross-domain work with an academic partner in a non-AI field such as biology, law or finance, with at least 50% of time with the primary advisor.

Research areas

AutoML•Bayesian & Probabilistic Learning•Bioinformatics•Causality•Computational Neuroscience•Computer Graphics•Computer Vision•Deep Learning•Earth & Climate Sciences•Health•Human Behavior, Psychology & Emotion•Human Computer Interaction•Human Robot Interaction•Information Retrieval•Interactive & Online Learning•Interpretability & Fairness•Law & Ethics•Machine Learning Algorithms•Machine Learning Theory•ML & Sustainability•ML in Chemistry & Material Sciences•ML in Finance•ML in Science & Engineering•ML Systems•Multi-agent Systems & Game Theory•Natural Language Processing•Optimization & Meta Learning•Privacy•Quantum & Physics-based ML•Reinforcement Learning & Control•Robotics•Robust & Trustworthy ML•Safety•Security, Synthesis & Verification•Symbolic Machine Learning•Unsupervised Learning•Social Sciences & Humanities•Entrepreneurship & Tech Transfer

ELIAS Focus

ELIAS offers an exceptional opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research across various impactful fields. These include Robust and Trustworthy Machine Learning, ensuring the development of secure and resilient AI systems; Machine Learning in Chemistry and Material Sciences, applying AI to uncover new solutions; Interpretability and Fairness, focusing on transparency and equity in AI models; ML and Sustainability, leveraging AI to address global environmental challenges; Earth and Climate Sciences, advancing understanding of climate change; and Law and Ethics, exploring the legal and moral dimensions of AI. This is a unique chance to contribute to critical interdisciplinary research at the forefront of technology.

Important dates

1 October 2026: Application portal opens

31 October 2026 (23:59 AoE): Application deadline

25 November 2026 (23:59 AoE): Deadline for references

November – December 2026: Review stage

January – February 2027: Interview stage

Late February – March 2027: Decisions

There is no common start date. It depends on the advisor and the institution.

How to apply

Candidates register on the ELLIS application portal and submit a complete application by the deadline. Incomplete applications are not considered. Before applying, please read the FAQs and the program webpage.

Application form

Personal details, research field and advisor preferences, and degrees and experience.

Documents (PDF)

A two-page motivational letter with a research statement, a current CV, unofficial BSc and MSc transcripts with English translations, and optionally a thesis, paper or portfolio under 20 MB.

References

Two to three referees, contacted personally first and requested through the portal before the deadline. At least two should be established researchers, and at most one a postdoc.

Important note: Some advisors list a parallel application as necessary on the portal. In these cases, please also apply through the institution's official channels at the same time, to avoid delays to your start date.

Diversity and inclusion

Admission is competitive: typically fewer than 5% of registered applicants, and 5–10% of eligible applicants, are accepted. The program particularly encourages women and people with disabilities to apply.

Funding

The program is funded by the EU Horizon programme through the ELIAS project (grant 101120237, 2023–2027). The EU-funded ELLIOT project (grant 101214398, 2025–2029) also helps expand it, and G-Research supports the program through scholarship funding through 2028.