PhD in Artificial Intelligence & Forensic Anthropology

We are recruiting a doctoral candidate (PhD) at Aix-Marseille University through the highly competitive SCHADOC Doctoral Training Program (MSCA COFUND).

Project: SYNOS – Synthetic Data for the Future of Forensic Identification
This project addresses a major challenge in forensic anthropology: the “Paradox of Reference” - the persistent reliance on outdated skeletal collections to identify modern individuals.

Our ambition is to transform the discipline by developing a bio-informed generative AI framework capable of producing realistic synthetic skeletal populations, overcoming current data scarcity limitations.

Why this PhD is unique

• A fully funded Marie Curie fellowship (36 months)
• A highly interdisciplinary project combining:

- Forensic Anthropology

- Artificial Intelligence (Deep Learning, GANs, GNNs)

• A triple supervision model (academic + international + non-academic)International secondments (Italy & Portugal)
• Collaboration with clinical and research infrastructures
• A strong focus on Open Science, ethics and societal impact

The candidate will develop a rare dual expertise in biological anthropology and AI, a profile increasingly sought after in academia, MedTech and forensic innovation sectors.

Candidate profile (key eligibility criteria)
We are looking for highly motivated candidates with:
A Master’s degree (or equivalent) allowing PhD enrolment
Strong interest in AI, data science and/or forensic anthropology
Less than 4 years of research experience
Compliance with MSCA mobility rule
Good level of English (minimum B1)

Application deadline: May 10, 2026

Apply here

Selection process (highly competitive)
Eligibility check
Double peer-review (internal + external experts)
Shortlisting
Final interview (June 2026)

Recruitment based on scientific excellence, interdisciplinarity and candidate potential