Leiden University, Netherlands invites online Application for number of Fully Funded PhD Degree at various Departments. We are providing a list of Fully Funded PhD Programs available at Leiden University, Netherlands.
Eligible candidate may Apply as soon as possible.
(01) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Candidate Human-Centered Interpretable Machine Learning
In recent years, practitioners and researchers have realized that predictions made by machine learning models should be transparent and intelligible. Although explainable AI methods can shed some light on the inner workings of black-box machine learning models such as deep neural networks, they have severe drawbacks and limitations. The field of interpretable machine learning aims to fill this gap by developing interpretable models and algorithms for learning from data. Meanwhile, the field of knowledge discovery and data mining has allowed us to obtain insights from large amounts of data for decades, and it is worth revisiting ideas and concepts from this field for the purpose of interpretable machine learning. Pattern-based modelling, for example, cannot only be used for exploratory data mining but also for predictive tasks.
Making machine learning interpretable, however, is not enough to make it fully useable for practitioners, for example in the health care domain, for two reasons. The first reason is that most algorithms exclusively learn from data, e.g., they cannot take into account domain expertise of the practitioner. Hence, there is a strong need for a human-centered approach that enables experts to inform and guide the learning process. The second reason is that interpretable models typically do not achieve the same level of accuracy as state-of-the-art black-box models. To remedy this, it is worth investigating hybrid models and learning, for example, combining pattern-based models with neural nets, or methods that enable interpretable models to learn from deep representations.
In this project, the researcher will develop theory and algorithms for (hybrid) model selection that allows to exploit domain knowledge through interactive learning. For this we will build on the minimum description length (MDL) principle and interpretable machine learning approaches. The resulting methods will be evaluated on real-world case studies in health care, to demonstrate the potential to discover novel insights from data.
Deadline : 14 October 2025
(02) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD in Data Governance for Equitable and Sustainable Digital Food Systems (DigiFood Project
PhD in Data Governance for Equitable and Sustainable Digital Food Systems (DigiFood Project), 1.0 FTE
The Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law, Governance and Society (VVI) invites applications for three PhD Researchers (1.0 FTE, 4 years) from February 2026 – February 2030 to join the DigiFood Project, an ERC-funded interdisciplinary and transnational research initiative examining how data governance frameworks can foster more sustainable and equitable food systems.
DigiFood investigates how emerging legal norms, institutional practices, and digital infrastructures are reshaping agrarian relations, with particular attention to the implications for small-scale food producers, peasants, and Indigenous communities in the Global South. A key dimension of the project is working in close collaboration with civil society organizations and social movements, to understand how they contest, reshape, and mobilize digital technologies in the struggle for more just and sustainable food systems.
The PhD will conduct original empirical socio-legal research on the legal and cultural dimensions of agricultural digitalization and data governance, focusing on one of three country case studies: India, Kenya, or Colombia. Each case study will be conducted by a dedicated PhD, generating comparative, cross-regional insights within the project.
Deadline : 9 October 2025
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(03) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: 2 PhD candidates in Industrial Ecology
The successful applicants will work as part of the Groeien met Groen Staal (GGS) programme, which aims to make the Dutch steel sector CO₂-neutral by 2050. Steel is crucial to modern society and plays a significant economic role in the Netherlands. However, given its environmental impact, the sector must be decarbonised in line with Dutch climate targets. Achieving this requires the development of innovative, transformative pathways across the entire steel value chain.
Deadline : 25 September 2025
(04) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD position in understanding and designing nanomedicines-membranes interaction
The Department of Physics of Leiden University welcomes applications for a fully funded 4-year PhD position on understanding and designing nanomedicine-membrane interactions. Nanomedicines have achieved tremendous successes in the treatment of and vaccination against a range of debilitating diseases. However, one of the key challenges that remains is to deliver the nanomedicines with high specificity to the desired target site in the body. In this PhD project, the candidate will experimentally study how to achieve high specificity by developing a quantitative understanding of the interactions between the nanomedicine and cellular membranes.
The PhD position will work under supervision of Prof. Daniela Kraft, whose group is embedded in the the Smart Living Active Matter Center at the physics department of Leiden University (link: https://slam-leiden.nl/Slam/Main/). We offer a collaborative and inspiring environment, as well as state-of-the-art equipment. The PhD project is part of a national effort (NanoMedNL) to create novel nanomedicines for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients, and the PhD student will collaborate with and contribute to this multidisciplinary consortium.
The ideal PhD candidate for this position has a background in physics and is committed to conducting independent and original scientific research. The results of this research will be reported in scientific publications and communicated through conference presentations, as well as described in a PhD thesis that is to be completed within 4 years. In addition, the candidate is expected to contribute 10% of their time to various teaching activities, such as supervision of exercise classes and research projects of BSc and MSc students.
Deadline : 31 October 2025
(05) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Student (1.0 FTE) Behavioral neuroscience with a focus on epilepsy
We are seeking a PhD student to join our interdisciplinary team and explore the complex relationship between behavior and brain health. This project focuses on developing novel measures of brain health by analyzing everyday behavioral patterns.
Deadline : 14 September 2025
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(06) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Candidate in Chemistry, Proteomics, and Immunology
The Leiden Institute of Chemistry is looking for a PhD candidate to pursue research on the development of immune-modulatory drugs to treat infectious disease.
Mycobacterial infections are among the top 10 cause of death globally. Although cases of tuberculosis are typically decreasing because of concerted global efforts, respiratory infections cause by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), such as M. avium, have more than doubled since the year 2000. The increase in antibiotic resistance is a major concern for both Mtb and NTM, and there is need for novel therapeutics.
This PhD project aims to develop small molecule drugs that deprive intracellular bacteria of essential nutrients and boost the immune response by targeting host-cell metabolism. The candidate will work as part of an interdisciplinary team to help characterize how pathogenic mycobacteria rewire host-cell metabolism and identify novel drug targets using (chemical) proteomic methods. They will be responsible for characterizing the mechanisms of novel bioactive compounds and the medicinal chemistry optimization of these molecules.
The candidate will be trained in a variety of powerful, modern analytical techniques and have access to advanced synthesis facilities, as well as biological models, such as macrophages and organoids, to enable the rapid translation of this research. The candidate will work as part of an interdisciplinary team embedded within the Institutes of Chemistry and Biology at Leiden, and the Leiden University Medical Center, which will maximize access to learning opportunities, local research networks, and access and facilities.
Deadline :30 September 2025
(07) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: 3 PhD Candidates in Generative AI for Industrial Design Engineering (GenAIDE) Project
GenAIDE (Generative AI for Industrial Design Engineering) is a 48-month MSCA Industrial Doctorate that wants to turn today’s computer-aided engineering tools into proactive team-mates.
The network of 16 academic & industrial partners will train 14 PhD fellows (3 of which are to be hired through this call).
Deadline : 1 October 2025
(08) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Candidate in AI for Network Analysis
An excellent young scientist with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Social Science, or a closely related discipline. The ideal candidate has a strong interest in algorithms, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, along with well-developed skills in scientific programming, and an affinity with network science in particular. You should be comfortable working with large-scale datasets and possess the curiosity and creativity needed to develop innovative AI models for network analysis. We seek someone with a critical, open-minded, and collaborative mindset, who is creative, precise and imaginative, and eager to explore new intellectual frontiers at the intersection of network science and AI. A candidate with prior experience in network science and/or AI-driven network analysis is strongly preferred; candidates should clearly mention their experience in this regard in the cover letter.
You will be part of the Computational Network Science (CNS) research group (see https://cns.liacs.nl) of LIACS, the computer science and AI department of the Faculty of Science at Leiden University. The candidate will be encouraged to collaborate on projects with other members of the group, which has access to a large number of relevant open and proprietary network datasets and a wide range of expertise, both in applied and fundamental network science research areas. Moreover, there are ample opportunities to collaborate with other research groups at LIACS; for example, data science, text mining, and algorithms. LIACS has an active PhD community that organizes seminars and social events specifically for PhD students. Additionally, there are plenty of opportunities for interaction and academic collaboration with other researchers in network science. For example, faculty-wide through the Leiden Complex Networks Network (LCN2, https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/lcn2) and nationally through, for example, the Dutch Network Science Society (https://www.netsci.nl).
Deadline : 27 September 2025
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(09) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Candidate in Immuno-biology and Infectious disease
The Faculty of Science Leiden, the Leiden Institute of Biology and Leiden Institute of Chemistry are looking for a PhD candidate to pursue research on the development of host-directed therapeutics for mycobacterial infections.
Mycobacterial infections are among the top 10 cause of death globally. Although cases of tuberculosis (Mtb) are typically decreasing because of concerted global efforts, respiratory infections cause by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), such as M. avium, have more than doubled since the year 2000. The increase in antibiotic resistance is a major concern for both Mtb and NTM, and there is need for novel therapeutics. This PhD project investigates the potential of targeting host-cell metabolism to deprive intracellular bacteria of essential nutrients and boost the immune response. The candidate will work as part of an interdisciplinary team to help characterize how pathogenic mycobacteria rewire host-cell metabolism and identify novel drug targets. They will be trained in a variety of powerful, modern analytic techniques including metabolomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics and work on advanced biological systems for modelling infection including macrophages, organoids, zebrafish, primary and clinical samples.
Embedding within the Institutes of Biology and Chemistry at Leiden will enable the candidate to maximize their learning opportunities, participate in local research networks, and access leading research facilities.
Deadline :1 November 2025
(10) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD candidate in Design and synthesis of pyrophosphate mimetics to study enzymes involved in natural
We are looking for a candidate with a strong synthetic organic chemistry background with a keen interest in (chemical) biology and structural biology, who is a real team player and open to collaborating in an international and interdisciplinary manner.
Deadline :20 September 2025
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(11) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Candidate, Efficient LLM Algorithm, Hardware and System Design (1.0 FTE)
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to develop efficient on-device generative AI systems based on large language models (LLMs). The project focuses on creating compact, low-latency, and energy-efficient LLM following a hardware-software co-design approach that enables real-time computation on resource-constrained devices. Example applications include portable speech understanding and rehabilitation tools for speech disorders, real-time language processing for human-robot interaction, and adaptive content generation in augmented and virtual reality environments. The project combines algorithm design, model compression, and custom hardware acceleration to advance the state of the art in edge LLM. This position offers a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of technological advancements that promise to reshape the future. You will have the chance to participate in actual silicon tape-outs and gain hands-on experience across the complete design flow, including specialized training in both front-end and back-end integrated circuit design. Additionally, you will have access to substantial computing resources to develop and experiment with LLMs.
Deadline : 30 September 2025
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About Leiden University, Netherlands –Official Website
Leiden University (abbreviated as LEI; Dutch: Universiteit Leiden) is a public research university in Leiden, Netherlands. It was founded as a Protestant university in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange as the first university in the Netherlands.
During the Dutch Golden Age scholars from around Europe were attracted to the Dutch Republic for its climate of intellectual tolerance. Individuals such as René Descartes, Rembrandt, Christiaan Huygens, Hugo Grotius, Benedictus Spinoza, and later Baron d’Holbach were active in Leiden and environs.
The university has seven academic faculties and over fifty subject departments, housing more than forty national and international research institutes. Its historical primary campus consists of several buildings spread over Leiden, while a second campus located in The Hague houses a liberal arts college (Leiden University College The Hague) and several of its faculties. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, the Europaeum, and a founding member of the League of European Research Universities.
The university has produced twenty-six Spinoza Prize Laureates and sixteen Nobel Laureates. Members of the Dutch royal family such as Queen Juliana, Queen Beatrix, and King Willem-Alexander are alumni, and ten prime ministers of the Netherlands including Mark Rutte. US President John Quincy Adams also studied at the university.
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