Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA)

The Department of Computer and Information Science is one of the largest departments in northern Europe in its field. Research activity at IDA covers artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, software and computer systems, and data science. 

The department is a dynamic and growing environment for research and education with around 300 employees. The activity covers a wide range of areas, from core computer science to applications of science. It is oriented towards both the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

The research activity at IDA is mainly performed within four major areas, each divided into a number of subareas:

  • Artificial intelligence (AI) with the subareas of autonomous systems and robotics, knowledge representation and reasoning, ontologies and semantic web, automated planning, applied machine learning, multi-agent systems, natural language processing, and theoretical foundations of AI.
  • Cognition, interaction and design with the subareas of cognitive science, cognitive systems engineering, interaction design, service design, public safety and security, decision support, human factors, and social robotics.
  • Software and computer systems with the subareas of software engineering, embedded and cyberphysical systems, real-time systems, cybersecurity and resilient systems, networks and distributed systems, multimedia systems, formal methods, compilers and programming language, and parallel and high performance computing.
  • Data science with the subareas of machine learning methodology, statistics, database technology, and data analytics.

The broad research base of the department directly enriches the undergraduate and graduate education. The department gives courses within most engineering programmes, several Master programmes, as well as the programmes for innovative programming, cognitive science and statistics.

IDA also offers doctoral education in computer science, design, cognitive science and statistics. Currently, around 90 postgraduate students are active in the department’s PhD programmes.

The department was founded in 1983, but its roots can be traced to the early seventies. It is organised in six divisions.

Calendar

News at IDA

25 June 2025

First researchers in the new Fenomenmagasinet

When the science centre Fenomenmagasinet opens its new premises in the Valla leisure area, it also opens the possibility of closer collaboration with LiU. Researchers Aseel and Erik Berglund will be among the first to move in.

Image of the award certificate

10 June 2025

Best research paper award for foundational work on knowledge graph construction

Olaf Hartig, Dept of Computer and Information Science, has won the Best Research Paper Award at the ESWC 2025 conference, which is one of the top conferences on knowledge graphs and semantic web technologies, a subfield of artificial intelligence.

Emma with VR headset on her head

19 May 2025

New doctor in Cognitive Science: Emma Mainza Chilufya

On March 28, Emma Mainza Chilufya at the Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA) successfully defended her thesis about human-computer interaction. "Being a PhD student at IDA has been eye-opening and inspiring", she says.

Job vacancies at IDA

Job Published To Employment Type External ID City Institution Occupational Area Position URL
Senior Associate Professor in Construction Engineering 2025-08-11 Permanent employment LiU-2025-01086 Norrkoping ITN - Department of Science and Technology Teachers and Scientists https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/26549
Associate Professor in Construction Engineering at the Department of Science and Technology 2025-08-11 Permanent employment LiU-2025-01085 Norrkoping ITN - Department of Science and Technology Teachers and Scientists https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/26631
PhD student in Computer Science at IDA 2025-07-31 Time limited employment (temporary) IDA-2025-00155 Linkoping IDA - Department of Computer and Information Science PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/26793
PhD student in wireless systems 2025-07-31 Time limited employment (temporary) LiU-2025-02789 Linkoping ISY - Department of Electrical Engineering PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27037
PhD student in Medical Science 2025-07-31 Time limited employment (temporary) BKV-2025-00502 Linkoping BKV - Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27062
PhD student in Analytical Sociology 2025-08-31 IEI-2025-00345 Norrkoping IEI - Department of Management and Engineering PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27064
Postdoc in Vehicular Systems, within SEDDIT competence center 2025-08-08 Time limited employment (temporary) LiU-2025-03032 Linkoping ISY - Department of Electrical Engineering Teachers and Scientists https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27074
PhD in communication electronics 2025-08-11 Time limited employment (temporary) LiU-2025-03057 Norrkoping ITN - Department of Science and Technology PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27079
PhD student in Medical Science at BKV 2025-07-04 Time limited employment (temporary) BKV-2025-00506 Linkoping BKV - Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27080
Postdoc in Communication Systems 2025-07-31 Time limited employment (temporary) LiU-2025-03014 Linkoping ISY - Department of Electrical Engineering Teachers and Scientists https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27084
PhD student in Medical Science at BKV 2025-08-10 Time limited employment (temporary) BKV-2025-00517 Linkoping BKV - Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27095
Bioinformatician to Clinical Genomics within Cell and Neurobiology 2025-07-08 Time limited employment (temporary) BKV-2025-00518 Linkoping BKV - Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Technical and Administrative personnel https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27100
Teaching assistants within Machine learning and R programming 2025-07-09 Time limited employment (temporary) IDA-2025-00222 Linkoping IDA - Department of Computer and Information Science Student https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27107
PhD student in Environmental Science at Environmental Change 2025-09-08 Time limited employment (temporary) TEMA-2025-00192 Linkoping TEMA - Department of Thematic Studies PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27133
Professor in Environmental Change 2025-10-01 Permanent employment LiU-2025-01816 Linkoping TEMA - Department of Thematic Studies Teachers and Scientists https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27140
Assistant Professor in Visual Media Communication 2025-08-04 Time limited employment (temporary) LiU-2025-02912 Norrkoping ITN - Department of Science and Technology Teachers and Scientists https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27155
WISE Fellow: Assistant professor in Materials Science with focus on Materials for Quantum Technologies 2025-10-06 Time limited employment (temporary) LiU-2025-02723 Linkoping IFM - Department of Physics, Biology and Chemistry Teachers and Scientists https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27157
PhD Student in Lighting Design 2025-08-18 Time limited employment (temporary) IEI-2025-00354 Linkoping IEI - Department of Management and Engineering PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27176
International student ambassador 2025-08-30 Time limited employment (temporary) LiU-2025-03273 Linköping & Norrköping UF - Department of University Services Student https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27177
PhD student in Energy Systems, industrial sustainability and digitalization 2025-08-12 Time limited employment (temporary) IEI-2025-00384 Linkoping IEI - Department of Management and Engineering PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27189
Systems Developer Linux / Devops at AIDA Data Hub 2025-08-24 Permanent employment LiU-2025-03288 Linkoping ITN - Department of Science and Technology Technical and Administrative personnel https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27193
Assistant Professor in Materials Science with a focus on simulation and modeling of organic functional materials for sustainability 2025-08-29 Time limited employment (temporary) LiU-2025-03059 Norrkoping ITN - Department of Science and Technology Teachers and Scientists https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27194
PhD student in Theoretical Ecology 2025-08-22 Time limited employment (temporary) IFM-2025-00343 Linkoping IFM - Department of Physics, Biology and Chemistry PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27211
PhD student in Scientific Visualization 2025-08-29 Time limited employment (temporary) LiU-2025-03223 Norrkoping ITN - Department of Science and Technology PhD students https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27223
Assistant professor in Machine Learning with a focus on Computational Photography 2025-08-25 Time limited employment (temporary) LiU-2025-03277 Linkoping ISY - Department of Electrical Engineering Teachers and Scientists https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27224
Principal research engineer in multi-omics integration at BKV 2025-08-11 Time limited employment (temporary) BKV-2025-00565 Linkoping BKV - Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Technical and Administrative personnel https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies/27248

Research at IDA

Other large industrial collaborations and national strategic research areas 

More projects at IDA and centra/laboratories for collaboration 

Computer room with students

Cybersecurity lab at LiU

The cybersecurity lab offers facilities that are tailored for teaching cybersecurity in undergraduate and professional training programs.

Car, taxi and bus traffic on road intersection at night in Hong Kong downtown, drone aerial view. Street commuters, Asian city life or public transport concept.

The Swedish Excellence Centre for Computational Social Science

This is a research hub and training centre at the forefront of Computational Social Science, a rapidly growing field that leverages computational tools to advance our understanding of human behavior and the complex social dynamics it can bring about.

Proud partner of Digital4Business banner

Digital4Business

Digital4Business is a Joint Professional Master's Degree in Advanced Digital Technologies. Linköping University contributes to the project with its broad and deep expertise in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Teacher and students with laptops interact

Graduate School in Computer Science, CUGS

The scientific scope of the graduate school CUGS at the Department of Computer and Information Science at Linköping University includes central parts of core computer science and computer engineering.

Doctoral studies

Doctoral (PhD) studies at the Department of Computer and Information Science

Doctoral studies at the Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA) are organised to cross traditional subject boundaries, and is common to the whole department.

What is it like to be a PhD student at IDA?

Emma with VR headset on her head

New doctor in Cognitive Science: Emma Mainza Chilufya

On March 28, Emma Mainza Chilufya at the Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA) successfully defended her thesis about human-computer interaction. "Being a PhD student at IDA has been eye-opening and inspiring", she says.

Dominik Drexler headshot

New doctor in Computer Science: Dominik Drexler

On March 24, Dominik Drexler at the Dept of Computer and Information Science successfully defended his thesis about integrating learning and AI planning. "Pursuing a PhD at IDA has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life", he says.

Mina Niknafs shows her printed thesis in the lecture hall.

New doctor in Computer Science: Mina Niknafs

On March 3, Mina Niknafs at the Dept of Computer and Information Science defended her thesis on resource management. "Pursuing a PhD at IDA is an enriching experience that combines academic freedom with a supportive research culture", she says.

Educational programmes involving IDA

The department gives courses within most engineering programmes, the Bachelor's programmes in Information Systems Analysis, Innovative Programming, Cognitive Science, and Statistics and Data Analysis, and several Master's programmes.

For more information on the programmes in Swedish that the department gives courses within, please visit Institutionen för datavetenskap (utbildningsprogram).

Master's programmes

Contact us

Student Office at IDA

Contact: expedition@ida.liu.se

Visiting address: Room 3F:477B, Building E, Entrance 27/29, Floor 3, Campus Valla

Opening hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12.15 and 13.00.

Registrar at IDA

Contact: registrator@ida.liu.se

Doctoral education at IDA

Contact: Anne Moe, Coordinator

E-mail: anne.moe@liu.se

Phone: +46 13 28 14 60

Management

All staff at IDA

Address

Postal Address

Linköping University
Department of Computer and Information Science
581 83 Linköping
Sweden

Visiting Address

Building B, entrance 25 - 29
Building E, entrance 27C - 29C
Mäster Mattias väg, Campus Valla

Awards

Image of the award certificate

Best research paper award for foundational work on knowledge graph construction

Olaf Hartig, Dept of Computer and Information Science, has won the Best Research Paper Award at the ESWC 2025 conference, which is one of the top conferences on knowledge graphs and semantic web technologies, a subfield of artificial intelligence.

Three men standing up, the one in the middle is holding up a diploma

Dominik Drexler awarded the Lawson Scholarship for 2024

Dominik Drexler, who recently received his PhD at the Department of Computer and Information Science, is awarded the Lawson Scholarship for excellent achievements in internationalisation, international contacts and international exchange at IDA.

Innovative idea for more effective cancer treatments rewarded

Lisa Menacher has been awarded the 2024 Christer Gilén Scholarship in statistics and machine learning for her master’s thesis. She utilised machine learning in an effort to make the selection of cancer treatments more effective.

Autumn image, sigh E-building

Award winners at IDA in 2023

We are proud to present awards received by students, teachers and researchers at the Department of Computer and Information Science, IDA, Linköping University.

More about IDA and about working at IDA

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