PhD Student in Applied Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing / PhD Student in Applied Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing

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 pioneering real-world applications of artificial intelligence for the Swiss judiciary. This initiative involves close collaboration with courts and 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 project at ETH Zurich, which focuses on developing and evaluating AI-based prototypes aimed at supporting judicial decision-making with a strong emphasis on real-world applicability.

Job Description

The doctoral researcher will be primarily responsible for the development and evaluation of AI-based research prototypes specifically designed for legal applications, concentrating on robust technical implementation and real-world deployment.

Core Responsibilities Include:

• Developing and implementing AI systems for legal text processing and decision support (e.g., LLMs, retrieval-augmented generation, agentic systems).
• Building production-quality prototypes suitable for pilot deployment in judicial settings, including robust retrieval systems, LLM pipelines, and evaluation infrastructure.
• Designing and conducting systematic evaluations of model performance, robustness, and reliability.
• Creating datasets, benchmarks, and pipelines tailored for legal AI applications.
• Enhancing model architectures, prompting strategies, and retrieval systems for high-stakes environments.
• Conducting pilot evaluations with judicial partners to analyze AI tool performance in actual decision-making workflows and translating findings into technical improvements.
• Publishing research results in leading venues within artificial intelligence and computational social science.
• This position supports a cumulative PhD with a strong methodological and technical focus.
• Our offices are located in downtown Zurich, with German and English as working languages.

Profile

We are looking for candidates who possess a solid foundation in ML/NLP along with strong engineering capabilities. The ideal candidate will understand the intricate workings of models and be capable of constructing reliable, deployable systems. You should:

• Hold a master’s degree in computer science, data science, or a closely related field.
• Exhibit strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently and take ownership of technical components.
• Show a keen interest in applying AI methods to real-world, high-stakes domains.
• Be motivated to collaborate with legal stakeholders from the Swiss judiciary.
• Preferably have experience with large language models, information retrieval, evaluation of ML systems, and deploying applications.
• Possess an excellent command of English; proficiency in German is a plus.

Workplace

Our offices are conveniently located in downtown Zurich, creating a vibrant and collaborative environment conducive to groundbreaking research.

We Offer

• An impactful career opportunity: Join ETH Zurich, which fosters professional development while making a positive societal contribution.
• A range of benefits, including public transport season tickets, car-sharing options, diverse sports activities offered by ASVZ, childcare facilities, and attractive pension benefits.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

In alignment with our core values, ETH Zurich fosters an inclusive environment. We are committed to promoting equal opportunities, valuing diversity, and nurturing a working and learning atmosphere where the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected. For more information about our commitment to diversity, please visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website. Sustainability is also a fundamental value for us, and we continually strive toward 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 this project.
• Your CV.
• Transcripts of your academic records.

For further information about the Center for Law & Economics, please visit our website. Questions regarding the position may be directed to Dr. Jakob Merane at jmerane@ethz.ch (no applications).

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specializing in science and technology. We are renowned for our exceptional education, pioneering fundamental research, and our ability to translate new knowledge into practical solutions for society. With over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries, our university promotes independent thinking in an inspiring environment aimed at excellence. Located in the heart of Europe while fostering global connections, we are committed to addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow.