TU Delft PhD Position 2026 | Privacy-Preserving AI for Crop Breeding | Program

TU Delft PhD Position 2026 | Privacy-Preserving AI for Crop Breeding

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology), Netherlands invites applications for a PhD Position in Privacy for Crop Breeding. The position is hosted by the Pattern Recognition and Bioinformatics Section and focuses on developing privacy-preserving machine learning models for genomic data used in plant breeding. The research is conducted in collaboration with KeyGene, an industry-leading research company specializing in crop improvement technologies.

Position Details

Organization: TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Position: PhD Candidate

Research Area: Privacy-Preserving AI, Bioinformatics & Crop Breeding

Department: INSY – Pattern Recognition and Bioinformatics Section

Industry Partner: KeyGene

Location: Delft, Netherlands

About the Project

Machine learning models are increasingly used in genomic analysis for crop breeding and plant improvement. However, training AI models on sensitive genomic datasets raises important privacy concerns, including the risk that models may memorize and reproduce confidential genetic information.

This PhD project aims to understand, quantify, and mitigate privacy risks in sequence-based machine learning models. The research will develop techniques that enable secure and privacy-preserving AI while supporting innovation in modern crop breeding.

Research Responsibilities

The selected PhD candidate will:

Investigate memorization risks in genomic sequence models.
Develop methods to quantify when trained models reproduce sensitive training sequences.
Study how characteristics of plant genomes influence memorization behaviour.
Design privacy-preserving strategies to prevent data leakage in AI models.
Translate research findings into practical guidelines for secure genomic AI applications.
Collaborate with researchers at TU Delft and KeyGene on cutting-edge bioinformatics projects.
Contribute to scientific publications and research dissemination.
Participate in teaching and student supervision activities where appropriate.

Required Qualifications

Applicants should possess:

A Master's degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science.
Strong affinity with Biology (a degree or background in Biology is preferred).
Excellent computational skills in machine learning model design, implementation, and testing.
Experience with coursework or research projects in Bioinformatics.
Good written and verbal communication skills in English.
Strong motivation to learn new techniques and collaborate in interdisciplinary research.
Interest in teaching and mentoring students (prior teaching experience is an advantage).

Research Areas

This interdisciplinary PhD combines expertise in:

Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Privacy-Preserving AI
Bioinformatics
Computational Biology
Genomics
Crop Breeding
Sequence Modelling
Data Privacy
Pattern Recognition

Why Join TU Delft?

Work at the intersection of AI, bioinformatics, and agricultural innovation.
Collaborate with KeyGene, a leading industry partner in crop breeding research.
Conduct impactful research addressing privacy challenges in genomic machine learning.
Access world-class research facilities and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Publish in leading scientific journals and contribute to next-generation privacy-preserving AI technologies.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application through the official TU Delft Careers Portal along with all required documents mentioned in the official recruitment advertisement.

Applicants are advised to carefully review the official notification for detailed eligibility criteria, required application documents, and submission guidelines before applying.

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