PhD Student in Applied ML and NLP / PhD Student in Applied ML and NLP

PhD Student in Applied ML and NLP

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

As part of the SNSF-funded project "Responsible AI for the Swiss Judiciary," we are engaged in real-world applications of artificial intelligence for the Swiss judiciary. This project involves close collaboration with courts and various partners across Switzerland. We are currently seeking a PhD student specializing in Applied Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP). This doctoral position is integral to the "Responsible AI for the Swiss Judiciary" project at ETH Zurich. The initiative develops and evaluates AI-based prototypes aimed at supporting judicial decision-making while ensuring real-world applicability. The project blends machine learning, legal applications, and empirical evaluation, providing a unique opportunity to contribute to essential AI systems that intersect with societal impact.

Job Description

The doctoral researcher will concentrate on developing and evaluating AI-based prototypes for legal applications, placing a strong emphasis on technical implementation and real-world deployment.

Core Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement AI systems for legal text processing and decision support (e.g., LLMs, retrieval-augmented generation, agentic systems).
• Build production-quality prototypes suitable for pilot deployment in judicial settings, including robust retrieval systems, LLM pipelines, and evaluation infrastructure.
• Design and execute systematic evaluations of model performance, robustness, and reliability.
• Create datasets, benchmarks, and pipelines for legal AI applications.
• Enhance model architectures, prompting strategies, and retrieval systems for high-stakes environments.
• Conduct pilot evaluations with judicial partners to assess AI tools' performance in real decision-making workflows, translating findings into technical improvements (e.g., new embedding methods, agent architectures, prompting strategies).
• Publish research findings in leading venues in artificial intelligence and computational social science.
• The position is designed for a cumulative PhD with a strong methodological and technical focus.
• Our offices are located in downtown Zurich, and the working languages are German and English.

Profile

We are looking for candidates who possess a strong foundation in ML and NLP, coupled with practical engineering skills. Ideal candidates will be those who not only understand how models function internally but can also build reliable, deployable systems. You:

• Must hold a master’s degree in computer science, data science, or a closely related field.
• Have strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Can work independently and take ownership of technical components.
• Are interested in applying AI methods to real-world, high-stakes domains.
• Are motivated to collaborate with legal stakeholders from the Swiss judiciary.
• Have experience with large language models, information retrieval, evaluation of ML systems, and application deployment, which is highly desirable.
• Are proficient in English; knowledge of German is a plus.

Workplace

Our offices are located in the heart of Zurich, offering a vibrant and collaborative environment.

We Offer

• Your role will have a meaningful impact, as you will be part of ETH Zurich, an institution that supports your professional development while actively contributing to positive societal change.
• Expect numerous benefits, including public transport season tickets, car sharing, a wide array of sports offered by ASVZ, childcare services, and attractive pension benefits.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

In line with our values, ETH Zurich commits to fostering an inclusive culture. We promote equal opportunity, embrace diversity, and cultivate a working and learning environment where the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to learn how we maintain a fair and open environment that allows everyone to thrive. Sustainability is a core value for us, and we are continually striving towards a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So Are We.

We look forward to receiving your online application using the form below.

Please include the following documents:

• A cover letter detailing your relevant experience and motivation for the position.
• Your CV.
• Transcripts.

For more information about the Center for Law & Economics, please visit our website. For inquiries regarding the position, please contact Dr. Jakob Merane at jmerane@ethz.ch (no applications).

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich stands among the world's leading universities specializing in science and technology. Renowned for its superior education, cutting-edge research, and direct knowledge transfer to society, the institution hosts over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries, fostering independent thought and inspiring excellence. Situated in the heart of Europe while maintaining global connections, we collaborate to devise solutions for today’s and tomorrow's global challenges.