📢 Open 4-year PhD Position in Deep Learning for Bioimage Analysis!

The Computer Vision and Pattern Discovery (CVPD) group at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) is offering a fully funded 4-year PhD position within the recently awarded project TOSBI: Towards Scalable and Generalized Solutions in Biomedical Images, supported by the Spanish State Agency for Research (AEI).

🎯 About the PhD Project

The doctoral research will focus on the development of new deep learning methodologies for biomedical image analysis, addressing critical challenges such as scarcity of annotated data, computational scalability, and model generalization.

The selected PhD student will explore partially supervised learning strategies (self-/semi-supervised, few/zero-shot learning) and the adaptation of foundation models to bioimage analysis tasks, including segmentation, classification, and object detection of cellular and tissue structures. The project combines state-of-the-art AI techniques with validation on real biomedical datasets, contributing to the creation of robust and accessible tools for the research community through platforms such as BiaPy.

👩‍🎓 Candidate Profile

• Degree and Master’s in Computer Science, Mathematics, Telecommunication Engineering, Physics, Bioinformatics, or related fields.
• Skills in scientific programming (Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow, computer vision libraries).
• Good command of English (spoken and written).
• Motivation for interdisciplinary research at the interface of computer vision, deep learning, and biomedical imaging.

Additional valued merits include prior experience in AI or bioimage projects, contributions to open-source software, and participation in international collaborations.

📝 Official Application Procedure

Applications must be submitted through the official UPV/EHU FPI 2025 call:
👉 https://www.ehu.eus/es/web/ikerketaren-kudeaketa/-/fpi-2025

Note: The project code associated with this contract is MCIU-NO24/P36.

📅 Key Dates

• Application period: October 11–31, 2025 (both included)
• Evaluation & selection: November–December 2025
• Contract start date: Within 6 months after the AEI’s final resolution (expected mid-2026)

🧠 Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree (or equivalent) qualifying for PhD studies.
• Candidates finishing their Master’s by March 31, 2026 are eligible but must provide proof before signing the contract.
• Have an average grade ≥ 6.5/10 in the undergraduate transcript (slightly lower thresholds apply to some engineering degrees).
• Be admitted or enrolled in a UPV/EHU doctoral program (can be done after selection).
• Not already hold a PhD or have been employed under a Spanish predoctoral contract.

Foreign candidates: may apply from abroad and later obtain a residence/work permit for Spain before starting the contract.

💼 Contract Details

• Duration: Up to 4 years (extendable to 6 for candidates with ≥33% disability).
• Employment type: Full-time under Spanish Science Law (Ley 14/2011).
• Salary: Minimum 75% of the national M3 salary level (as per AEI and UPV/EHU regulations). Initial gross salary: 24,468.15 €/year (estimated taxes: 8,5%).
• Includes funding for:
  • PhD tuition fees (reimbursed annually).
  • Research stays in other R&D institutions (up to €7,000 total minus tuition fees).
  • Social security coverage and unemployment rights.

🌍 Application from Abroad

International applicants not residing in Spain may apply via email (exceptionally allowed):

📧 Send to: pre-postdoc.dgi@ehu.eus
Subject line: FPI 2025

Important:

• This route is only for applicants currently living outside Spain.
• Applicants residing in Spain must apply through the UPV/EHU electronic portal:
  👉 https://egoitza.ehu.eus

📚 Required Documents

All applicants must submit the following:

1. Application form (named ‘Solicitud’, and available on the UPV/EHU application website).
   👉 Access the form here
2. Official academic transcripts – Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
   • If degrees were obtained abroad, include an official GPA equivalence certificate from the Spanish Ministry of Education:
     👉 Apply here
3. Short CV in the Spanish CVN format (generated via https://cvn.fecyt.es/editor/).
4. Passport copy.
5. Two signed declarations (templates available on the UPV/EHU website):
   • Not previously employed under a predoctoral contract.
     👉 Access the form here
   • Not holding a PhD degree.
     👉 Access the form here
6. Any specific additional documents requested for the chosen project.

Remeber to specify the project code associated with this contract: MCIU-NO24/P36.

🧩 Evaluation

Applications are evaluated by a specific committee linked to each project.

Evaluation criteria:

• Academic and research track record (up to 50 points)
• Fit with the project’s objectives and research line (up to 50 points)

Results will be published on the UPV/EHU Research Vice-Rectorate website, and selected candidates will be notified via email.

📬 Contact

For general inquiries and submission:

✉️ pre-postdoc.dgi@ehu.eus​

For project-specific questions, contact the project supervisors:

• Prof. Fadi Dornaika
• Dr. Ignacio Arganda-Carreras

🌐 More Information

More details on PhD admissions at UPV/EHU:
Doctorate pre-enrolment at UPV/EHU