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Technical University of Munich

PhD and PostDoc Positions in Machine Learning

We are continuously looking for talented and highly motivated individuals from all backgrounds who are passionate about advancing the field of machine learning. Our research group is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that welcomes computer scientists, mathematicians, physicists, and engineers, with related technical expertise from diverse educational institutions and cultural backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from women and underrepresented groups interested in contributing to the research on the foundations of AI and machine learning. 

Areas of Interest: We are currently offering positions to explore a range of topics within the realm of AI and machine learning, including but not limited to:

  • Machine Learning for Graphs / Geometric Deep Learning / Categorical Deep Learning
  • Trustworthy Machine learning e.g. :
    • Robustness (Randomized smoothing, robustness beyond Lp perturbations, etc.)
    • Differential privacy
    • Uncertainty in ML (e.g., Bayesian neural nets, OOD detection, etc.)
  • Machine Learning in Science (e.g., ML + simulations, molecular dynamics, etc.)
  • ML Models for Sequential Data (e.g., LLMs, event sequences)
  • Uncertainty in ML (e.g., Bayesian neural nets, OOD detection, etc.)
  • Efficient ML Techniques (e.g., pruning, compression, quantization, model fusion, etc.)

While these are some areas we are actively exploring, we encourage candidates to propose their research topics that align with and complement our work. 

For a deeper understanding of our research and ongoing projects, we encourage you to review our recent publications and visit the web pages of individual team members. Should you have any queries regarding our group’s culture or specific research topics, feel free to reach out to any of us. However, please note that due to the volume of inquiries, we might not be able to respond to every query individually. We recommend checking the FAQs first to see if your question has already been answered.

Candidate Profile

  • University degree (M.Sc.) with very good grades in Computer Science or related fields (For PostDocs: Ph.D. in the corresponding area and publications at the following venues: ICML, KDD, NeurIPS, ICLR, or WWW)
  • Strong background in machine learning / data mining
  • Strong programming skills in at least one programming language (preferably Python with experience in PyTorch, TensorFlow or similar)
  • Fluent English in writing and speaking (your responsibilities include to write publications and to give international presentations)

How do I apply?

Please send your application (in a single file in pdf format; no links to external files; in English or German) by email to Prof. Dr. Stephan Günnemann (s.guennemann@tum.de; subject: "PhD Application" respectively "PostDoc Application"). The pdf should include (i) a brief statement of interest/motivation letter and why you fit to our group (at most half a page), (ii) a curriculum vitae, (iii) copies of certificates/transcripts, (iv) a summary/abstract of the master thesis, and (v) if already available, a list of publications. Feel free to include in your e-mail body a very short summary of your major achievements (e.g. excellent grades, internships, papers, ...). A list of references (names, contact information) is helpful as well. Applications will be considered as they are received and until the positions are filled.

What happens after my application email?

Our application process has multiple stages. After your initial application email, you will be invited for an online interview of roughly 1 hour with current PhD students and postdocs. In this interview, we check your basic machine learning knowledge, problem solving and programming capabilities. Next, you will have one or more interviews / discussions with Prof. Dr. Günnemann. These will go deeper into individual problems, your projects and how your research interests align with the group. Along the way, you might be asked to give a presentation to the group about a project of yours, for example your master's thesis. If everything worked out until here, you will be invited to join the research group!

When should I apply?

The whole application process takes 2-4 months from your application email to your first day in the lab. If you want to minimize the waiting time between your master's graduation and starting as a PhD student, we invite you to apply already while you are working on your master's thesis. The midway point, meaning roughly 3 months away from submitting your thesis, is usually a good point. You will not have any disadvantage compared to a student applying with a finished thesis.

Salary is according to the level TV-L E 13 of the German public sector (for PostDocs: option of E 14). As part of the Excellence Initiative of the German federal and state governments, TUM has been pursuing the strategic goal of substantially increasing the diversity of its faculty. As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, TUM explicitly encourages nominations of and applications from women as well as from all others who would bring additional diversity dimensions to the university’s research and teaching strategies. Preference will be given to disabled candidates with essentially the same qualifications.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact Prof. Stephan Günnemann (s.guennemann@tum.de) and check our FAQ site.

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