! PhD positions available !

Interested to be a PhD student in our group?

We have two open PhD student positions, coming with a PhD scholarship, in projects of development of machine learning algorithms and applying them to atomistic modeling. One is a PhD position in Scientific Computing and another one in Materials Science and described below.

PhD in Scientific Computing

The focus of this PhD position is to develop new algorithms for atomistic modeling by applying ideas from machine learning, linear algebra, optimization, etc. The work will be in close collaboration with materials scientists to test these algorithms on relevant applications of atomistic modeling. A successful PhD student will be awarded an internationally recognized PhD degree in Mathematics.

Qualifications: Successful candidates will have

• A Master (or Specialist or an equivalent) degree in Applied Mathematics / Computer Science
• Strong background in either machine learning or computational mathematics
• Knowledge of physics, chemistry, or materials research is a plus.
• Experience with Python and/or C/C++.

English is a working language at Skoltech. The candidates should have at least an upper-intermediate level of English language.

PhD in Materials Science

The focus of this PhD position is on application of machine-learning algorithms to materials-science problems. The work will be in close collaboration with developers of the algorithms with opportunities to develop and code such algorithms. A successful PhD student will be awarded an internationally recognized PhD degree in Materials Science.

Qualifications: Successful candidates will have

• A Master (or Specialist or an equivalent) degree in Computational Materials Science / Physics / Computational Mathematics (needed by 1 October 2025)
• Experience in atomistic modeling and familiarity with the underlying algorithms
• Knowledge/experience in machine learning or  computational mathematics is a plus.
• Experience with programming.

English is a working language at Skoltech. The candidates should have at least an upper-intermediate level of English language.

How to apply:

Before the formal application, an informal email (sent to ) stating interest in the position with a CV and possibly other documents is welcome.

Interested candidates should send their application that includes a

1. Motivation Letter (Statement of purpose)
2. Curriculum vitae, with a publication list (if any)
3. Optional: research statement (as a link to a document published online or by simply emailing it to me)
4. Optional (if available): reprints of 1-2 selected publications or an MSc thesis or conference abstracts (as a link to a published document or by simply emailing it to me)
5. Two letters of recommendation (submitted online)

to http://apply.skoltech.ru/ selecting “PhD” as the degree level and identifying “Alexander Shapeev” as the prospective supervisor, and selecting “Computational and Data Science and Engineering” (for PhD in Mathematics) or “Materials Science and Engineering” (for PhD in Materials Science)  from the list of centers.

All documents should be submitted in English (the exceptions are diplomas in Russian and publications in Russian). After screening, the candidates will be invited for a Zoom interview close to Summer 2025. The starting date of the positions is October 1, 2025.

Skoltech is committed to diversity and opportunity, and application materials will be considered without regard to the gender, race, or nationality of the applicant.