Open position! PhD student in knowledge alignment for RNA AI models (SATURNA project)

The Human-Centred Health AI research group is are looking for a talented and motivated PhD student to join our interdisciplinary team working at the intersection of computational methods and health science, for the SNF-funded SATURNA (AI for RNA) project. SATURNA is dedicated to decoding the dynamic choreography of RNA to better understand how dynamic processes shape disease states at cellular and molecular scales. The project brings together expertise in artificial intelligence, computational RNA biology, and neuroscience. It is a collaboration between groups at the University of Bern, the Idiap Research Institute, the USI in Lugano, the EPFL in Lausanne, and the National University of Singapore.

In this PhD position you will work on methods to integrate prior biological knowledge into RNA AI models and enhanced approaches to explanation and interpretation of such models. You will be based in Martigny, Switzerland and affiliated with the EPFL Doctoral Program. You will be expected to conduct high quality research in close collaboration with partners of the SATURNA initiative.

Your specific tasks will include AI for RNA methods development and conducting high-quality empirical investigations, writing and reviewing scientific publications, and other duties including teaching and outreach.

The position is for four years, full time, on-site at the Idiap Research Institute, Martigny, Switzerland. Approximate start date: September 2026

View more information and apply online by 24th July 2026.