Conditional Diffusion Modelsfor Image Reconstruction and Analysis with applications to ischemic and non-ischemic myocardial scar analysis Supervisors: Markus Haltmeier, Department of Mathematics, University of Innsbruck |
Agnes Mayr, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Innsbruck The project Conditional diffusion models hold great promise for image reconstruction, resolution enhancement, data completion and segmentation in medical imaging.
Open challenges remain in integrating conditional information (e.g. clinical metadata) and in ensuring robustness across imaging protocols and patient populations.
In this project you will develop and mathematically analyse conditional diffusion models for reconstruction, segmentation and analysis tasks, with myocardial scar analysis in cardiac MRI as the motivating application.
The project builds on an established collaboration between mathematics and radiology in Innsbruck.
Your profile We are looking for someone who really enjoys mathematics: the focus is on the mathematics of diffusion models, prior knowledge of the medical application is not required.
Ideally you have • a Master’s degree in mathematics, or in physics or computer science with a strong mathematical focus;
• solid foundations in analysis, linear algebra and probability theory/stochastics;
• programming skills in Python;
• interest in inverse problems, generative models and machine learning.
Purely application-oriented profiles without solid, documented mathematical training are not a good fit.
Formal eligibility (as in the official call): • Master’s (or equivalent) degree, final certificate available before employment starts;
no doctoral degree yet.
•
MSCA mobility rule: not more than 12 months of living, working or studying in Austria in the 36 months before 10 December 2026. What we offer • Full-time doctoral employment contract for 3 years (40 h/week).
• Salary from C3,776.10 gross per month (level B1, Austrian universities’ collective agreement) plus allowances – about a third above most PhD contracts in Austria.
• Enrolment in the doctoral programme in Mathematics at the University of Innsbruck, with structured training across both universities (winter schools, transferable-skills courses).
• Two secondments at international academic and non-academic partner institutions.
• A truly interdisciplinary environment between mathematics and clinical radiology – and life in the Alps.
How to apply • Apply online: ignidte.i-med.ac.at/apply – deadline 10 December 2026. • Select DC5 as your preferred doctoral project and include a 2-page research proposal for it.
• Online interviews with shortlisted candidates: 18–31 January 2027;
decisions by the end of February 2027. Questions about the project?
Informal enquiries are welcome: Markus Haltmeier, General questions about the programme and the application: More projects and full call text: ignidte.i-med.ac.at.
IGNIDTE is funded by the European Union (Horizon Europe, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
COFUND).
Selection follows a transparent, merit-based and equal-opportunity process.