AI:X is an ambitious initiative at Aalborg University that aims to advance AI research and create real-world impact through interdisciplinary collaboration. Nine labs will be established in 2026, including the AI:HealthData Lab.

The AI:HealthData Lab is a collaboration between the Data Engineering, Science, and Systems (DESS) research group at the Department of Computer Science, Technical Faculty of IT and Design, and the Center for Clinical Data Science (CLINDA) and the Center for General Practice (CAM) at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine.

Health records contain a wealth of clinically valuable information, much of which is embedded in unstructured patient journal notes. However, this limits its use and may lead to suboptimal care. The AI:HealthData Lab investigates methods for extracting clinically relevant entities, relations, and events from patient records and organizing them into knowledge graphs, with a particular focus on data management, semantic modelling, and efficient querying and analytics over complex data.

As part of this effort, we are opening one PhD position in AI-driven data management for health data at the Department of Computer Science. The PhD stipend is open for appointment from 15 August 2026 or soon hereafter. The duration of the position is three years.

Your work tasks

Our work will focus on research in data management for knowledge graph construction and querying, in the context of complex and largely unstructured health data.

You will contribute to the development of novel techniques that combine elements from database systems, knowledge representation, and information extraction. You will investigate how semantic models, such as knowledge graphs and ontologies, declarative query paradigms, and machine learning methods can be integrated to support extraction and querying over unstructured document collections.

Your activities include designing algorithms, data models, and system prototypes for constructing knowledge graphs from heterogeneous data sources, as well as supporting provenance-aware and efficient querying over combined structured and unstructured data. You will evaluate the proposed approaches in controlled and real-world settings, with a focus on correctness, efficiency, and robustness. You will also collaborate with researchers from the Department of Clinical Medicine affiliated with the lab.

While the project builds on recent advances in AI for information extraction, the primary focus is not on developing standalone NLP workflows, but on incorporating techniques such as language models into principled data-intensive systems.

Your competencies 

You should have a strong interest in data management, knowledge engineering, and data-intensive systems. You should have a solid background in areas such as data structures, database systems, and query languages, or in other fields providing strong analytical and mathematical foundations relevant to the design and analysis of data processing techniques.

Familiarity with concepts such as relational algebra, linear algebra, query processing, and semantic technologies is preferred, but not strictly required.

The position requires strong programming skills and the ability to design and implement research prototypes and system-level components. Experience with programming languages such as Java, C++, or similar is advantageous, in addition to more commonly used languages such as Python.

You are expected to be motivated to work on foundational and system-oriented research, and to have an interest in information extraction and in the integration of AI methods into data processing pipelines.

Finally, you should be curious, self-driven, and able to communicate clearly in English, as well as willing to collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment.

Qualification requirements

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design (Stipend 1) or the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology (Stipend 2) in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19, 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions.

According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. As part of the PhD study, you are among other things required to complete PhD courses corresponding to 30 ECTS, gain experience with teaching or other forms of knowledge dissemination and complete an external research stay outside of Aalborg University, preferably 3-6 months at a foreign research institution.

Who we are    

You will work under the supervision of both lab directors, Daniele Dell’Aglio, Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science, Aalborg University and Charles Vesteghem, Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University.

Stipend 1 will primarily be located at the Data Engineering, Science and Systems (DESS) research group. DESS is a top‑tier research environment advancing innovation in data engineering, data science, and data systems, bringing together emerging talent and senior researchers with decades of pioneering contributions. The group develops cutting‑edge algorithms, frameworks, and prototype technologies that leverage high‑volume, complex data, including graph, multidimensional, and spatio‑temporal data. As a PhD student, you will join a vibrant, internationally recognized environment committed to pushing the boundaries of data‑intensive research and shaping next‑generation data technologies powering modern AI systems.

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

• Application, stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position,
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (bachelor’s and master's degree diploma, including grades)
• A list of max 3 references that can be contacted
• The MSc thesis (if completed at the time of application)

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website. 

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions?     
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Selected candidates with be invited for a first interview in week 25 or 26 (17/06 – 26/06).

A second interview will be organized shortly after, if needed, with a focus on completed projects and technical competencies.

A final decision is expected in week 27 (29/06-03/07).

Further information  
Read more about our recruitment process here.

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Read more about The Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design Stipend 1

Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (in Danish) 

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.