Open Positions (inactive)

PhD Position – Doctoral School on Precision Livestock Farming (PLFDoc)

The Computer Vision Lab and Data Science Group at TU Wien announce a

PhD Position

within the Doctoral School on Precision Livestock Farming (PLFDoc) starting in October 2023 (or later).

We are looking for a highly motivated graduate (Dipl.-Ing, MSc.) with a background in computer vision and/or machine learning and a strong interest in the application field of sustainable livestock farming and animal welfare. The successful candidate will work in an interdisciplinary team as part of the PLFDoc project, funded by the Austrian Science Foundation (FWF).

The PhD thesis will focus on computer vision and machine learning techniques in the context of precision livestock farming. The research addresses tasks such as animal detection, pose estimation and action recognition. In particular, the thesis will explore how Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) can support and improve the outcome of the computer vision algorithms in view of the subsequent action classification tasks. The successful candidate will focus on the design, implementation, and validation of computer vision and XAI models with the aim to better understand and improve animal welfare.

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a Master or equivalent degree in computer science, data science, electrical engineering, bioengineering, mathematics, physics, or related studies who meet several of the following requirements:

  • Excellent academic record
  • Strong background in computer vision and/or machine learning
  • High ability for algorithmic thinking
  • Good programing skills (e.g., C++, Python) and experience with deep learning frameworks
  • Expertise or strong interest in interdisciplinary work at the intersection of computer vision, data analysis, machine learning, animal behavior, welfare and health
  • Fluent English in writing, reading and speaking

The employment will be for 30 hours/week, with a contract lasting up to 4 years and a gross salary (according to the collective agreement used at Austrian universities) of approximately €2.450, 14 times a year.

To apply or for further enquiries, please send an email to:

Ao. Univ.Prof. Margrit Gelautz (email: margrit.gelautz@tuwien.ac.at)

Institute of Visual Computing and Human-Centered Technology

Vienna University of Technology