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 ARMADA: Reliable Conversational Domain-specific Data Exploration and Analysis

Conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Bard promise to answer complex problems by performing simple conversations. Unfortunately, their answering processes are inscrutable, as well as prone to bias, hallucinations, and high computational costs. The ARMADA doctoral network will train 15 highly skilled Early Stage Researchers to specialize in the area of Conversational AI and tackle the challenges associated with the recent advances in developing LLMs, particularly when assisting analysis in sensitive domains.

DC Automated Reasoning

The 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.

DC Computational Sustainability

Solving economic, social, and environmental challenges through sustainable development has become essential, especially since the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Computer science, and more recently artificial intelligence, has been hailed as a key enabler of sustainability. However, energy efficiency and CO₂ reduction must also be considered to ensure fair and ecological use of resources. Computational Sustainability focuses both on the growing energy consumption of computational systems and on how computer science can address major global challenges.

DC Digital Humanism

Digital technologies profoundly influence every aspect of our lives, from communication and governance to education and the economy. The DigHum Doctoral College is committed to ensuring that these technologies are developed and implemented in ways that uphold human values, democratic principles, and social responsibility. The DC brings together outstanding doctoral candidates and leading researchers to address the societal challenges of digital transformation through the lens of human values. By fostering interdisciplinary research that bridges computer science, social sciences, and humanities, we aim to cultivate a new generation of scholars equipped to understand, navigate and positively influence the complex interplay between technology and society.

DC iCAIML: Innovative Combinations and Applications of AI and ML

The mission of iCAIML 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 the field of AI. The doctoral program’s faculty thus is built from AI experts and domain experts from industry and from several faculties of TU Wien.

DC LogiCS@TUWien: Logical Methods in Computer Science

LogiCS@TUWien is an interdisciplinary doctoral programme at Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien) that educates PhD students on logical methods in Computer Science and their applications, in particular to Artificial Intelligence, Databases, Verification, Algorithms, Security and Cyber-Physical Systems. LogiCS@TUWien provides a training that is designed to encourage interdisciplinarity between the involved fields by joint seminars, scientific workshops, and courses outside the PhD students’ research fields.

DC PLF-Doc: Precision Livestock Farming

PLFDoc aims to develop new CV- and XAI-based tools, including prediction of parturition, animal identification, and estimation of individual water and feed intake in pigs and cattle. The development of these tools requires the combination of expertise from fields such as veterinary medicine, agricultural sciences, behavioral biology, data science, and engineering. The collaborative research by experts from these disciplines is therefore of utmost importance and forms the research framework for the doctoral program.

DC STEAM - STEM - stART'em

This doctoral program aims to tackle the challenges of inclusive, meaningful, and effective STEM education by combining the innovative approaches of Computer Science, Technology, and Art Education. A key focus is on computer science classes. While crucial for digitalization, they are often taught by non-specialist teachers and frequently struggle to effectively reach and motivate students.

DC Visual Analytics and Computer Vision Meet Cultural Heritage

The possibilities for preserving our cultural heritage have made enormous progress through digital technologies. Visual media such as historical photographs and amateur films are important components of the media collections created by digitization. To capture the contents of these collections and gain new insights, it takes methods that combine efficient automated data analysis with the expertise of specialists. Our joint doctoral program 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.

DC:{CD}: Computational Design

The Doctoral College Computational Design at TU Wien, embedded in the Center for Geometry and Computational Design, is the first PhD program in Austria that is 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

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.