Overview

In Doctoral Colleges, several doctoral students’ individual research areas are aligned to a common topical focus. This is complemented by a dedicated organizational structure that fosters interaction among the students (and their supervisors alike). And although the Doctoral Colleges are still bound to the respective basic curricula and the Doctoral School Procedure as a minimum requirement, they often have their own regulations for the coursework on top of those.

Current Doctoral Colleges

DC ACPS: Trustworthy Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems

The design of Trustworthy Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems (ACPS) is challenging because of the multitude and variety of requirements that must be satisfied, for example, safety, security, timeliness, reliability, robustness, fairness, and transparency in ACPS decision-making. Thus, architecting an ACPS by its decomposition into nearly independent self-contained subsystems with simple interfaces is essential. Only then we are capable to reason and demonstrate that the assembled ACPS truthfully satisfies its purpose.

DC Automated Reasoning

The new Doctoral College on Automated Reasoning aims to train the next generation of experts in this critical field. It addresses foundational questions, including the rigorous definition of safety and security across domains and applications, the development of automated techniques and analyses to ensure the safety and security of electronic systems and the exploration of synergies between security and AI. The program’s academic excellence is ensured by a faculty of seven distinguished researchers, each of whom has received prestigious awards and maintains strong ties to industry.

DC Digital Humanism

This doctoral college aims to enable young scientists to work on these challenges from different scientific perspectives and thus contribute to shaping a responsible digital future. Digital Humanism poses the critical question of how technological developments can be shaped responsibly and brought into harmony with human values. The increasing importance of topics such as artificial intelligence, rights and the rule of law in the digital age, ethics-based algorithms, economic monopolies, and social justice make it necessary to look at technological innovations from different perspectives and take a stand against technological determinism.

DC GCD: Geometry and Computational Design

Situated at the interface of several areas of excellence in research: Computer Graphics and Algorithms, Software Technology and Interactive Systems, Computer Aided Automation, Discrete Mathematics and Geometry, Architectural Sciences, Art and Design, History of Art, Building Archaeology and Restoration, Interdisciplinary Construction Process Management and Mechanics of Materials and Structures.

DC iCAIML: Innovative Combinations and Applications of AI and ML

The mission of our iCAIML doctoral college is to investigate the combination of symbolic- and sub-symbolic AI techniques and novel applications for AI. We expect synergetic effects in both directions: (1) novel combinations of AI methods can pave the way for applications of AI techniques in so far less explored domains; (2) the requirement in specific applications can guide and instruct fundamental research in AI.

DC LogiCS: Logical Methods in Computer Science

Aims at developing new logical methods in the areas of Databases and Artificial Intelligence, Verification, and Computational Logic, and applying them to solving problems in emergent areas like Security and Privacy, Cyber-Physical Systems, and Distributed Systems.

DC PLFDoc: Precision Livestock Framing

The multidisciplinary focus of the PLFDoc doctoral program aims to train five highly qualified experts in the field of Precision Livestock Farming. The expertise of the PhDs acquired in this program is intended to meet the growing societal demand for ethically sustainable animal husbandry, improve the welfare and health of livestock, and support farmers in their daily herd management.

DC RES: Resilient Embedded Systems

Investigates novel methods to design, verify and implement safe, secure, and dependable computing architectures subject to real-time constraints.

DC SIC!: Smart Industrial Concept!

Aims to develop ways to optimize the use of energy in industrial plants, including energy conversion, distribution and storage, and to investigate their interaction with the basic conditions of the energy industry.

DC SafeSecLab: Safety and Security in Industry Research

Elaborates suitable system architectures for networked industrial production facilities that consider safety (the operation of the system must not pose any threat) as well as security (protection against unauthorized manipulation).

DC SecInt: Secure and Intelligent Human-Centric Digital Technologies

Aims to develop the scientific foundations of secure and intelligent human-centric digital technologies.

DC TrustRobots: Trust in Robots – Trusting Robots

Comprehensively analyses “trust” in the context of robot technology from various perspectives including but not limited to social sciences and economics, computer science and mathematics, electrical and mechanical engineering, and architecture

ITN/ETN Doctoral Program DoSSIER

DoSSIER is an EU Horizon 2020 Innovative European Training Network on Domain Specific Systems for Information Extraction and Retrieval. DoSSIER elucidates, models, and addresses the different information needs of professional users.

MSCA COFUND Doctoral Program LogiCS@TUWien

Interdisciplinary doctoral program that educates on logical methods in computer science and their applications, in particular to artificial intelligence, databases, verification, algorithms, security systems, and cyber-physical systems.

Visual Analytics and Computer Vision Meet Cultural Heritage

Joint doctoral program that explores approaches to automatic image analysis and visualization to access historical media collections and make them accessible to a wide range of users. The central aspect here is the interdisciplinary approach between computer science and the humanities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I join a Doctoral College?

Typically, a Doctoral Collage is anchored at one of our research units, so you can build on existing experience and infrastructure within an established group. In addition, several doctoral candidates’ individual research areas are aligned to a common topical focus to foster interaction among the students (and their supervisors alike).

Do I have to join a Doctoral College?

No, if you fulfill the admission criteria, all it takes is a supervisor with whom you agree on a topic of your thesis. Doctoral Collages do offer much deeper integration in our research activities though, so we highly recommend checking them out.

How do I join a Doctoral College?

The general admission rules for our doctoral program also apply to all our Doctoral Colleges. In addition, each college may have its own set of rules and requirements and typically, Doctoral Colleges have dedicated calls with restricted submission windows. Please visit their websites (see above) to find out more.

Do Doctoral Colleges have extra course requirements?

The topical focus of Doctoral Colleges already suggests a focus with respect to the courses as well. So often, you will find a more restricted selection of area courses, plus, in some cases, an additional list of courses that need to be taken. Please visit the websites (see above) for their specific regulations.