Fully Funded van der Schaar Lab PhD Positions 2027 at the University of Cambridge
Overview
The van der Schaar Lab at the University of Cambridge is offering fully funded PhD positions starting in 2027. The program is designed for prospective machine learning researchers who want to build advanced artificial intelligence methods focused on solving major challenges in healthcare, biology, economics, and wider society. Research areas include causal deep learning, automated machine learning, data-centric AI, digital twins, interpretable machine learning, synthetic data, survival analysis, time-series modelling, uncertainty quantification, and AI for scientific discovery.
Who can apply
International applicants of different nationalities, academic backgrounds, and professional experiences are welcome to apply. Candidates need to hold or be predicted to obtain an undergraduate degree with top grades from a highly regarded academic institution, equivalent to a UK first-class honours degree in a quantitatively focused subject such as computer science, mathematics, engineering, economics, statistics, or another related discipline. A Master’s degree or equivalent research and professional experience is preferred. Prior knowledge of medicine or biology is not required.
What you get
Successful candidates receive full funding for their doctoral studies in Cambridge. Researchers gain close supervision, hands-on research mentoring, and opportunities to collaborate with leading institutions and clinical partners like the Francis Crick Institute and Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Students typically publish papers at major machine learning conferences such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, and AISTATS.
Requirements
Applicants are expected to possess an excellent mathematical background, ideally paired with previous experience in machine learning. Candidates must demonstrate strong quantitative preparation, evidence of research ability, and a clear motivation for joining the lab. Relevant publications, research projects, technical work, and programming or machine learning experience should be highlighted where applicable.
How to apply
Candidates must submit their information through the lab's application form by providing their full name, email address, bachelor's institution, master's institution, and details of any PhD institution. The submission requires a brief summary of previous study or professional experience detailing institutions, courses, and grades, along with an explanation of interest in pursuing a PhD with Professor Mihaela van der Schaar. Applicants can also include links to publications, reports, or research code, and upload up to three PDF files containing their CV, résumé, or portfolio.
Key dates
Applications are open and assessed on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline. Prospective applicants can also attend an online PhD Open House and Information Session on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, at 16:00 UK time. The PhD positions start in 2027.