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 working on real-world applications of artificial intelligence for the Swiss judiciary in close collaboration with courts and partners throughout Switzerland. We are seeking a motivated PhD Student in Applied ML and NLP to join our innovative team. This doctoral position is integral to the project, which aims to develop and evaluate AI-based prototypes that support judicial decision-making with a focus on practical applicability. The project uniquely combines machine learning, legal applications, and empirical evaluation, offering a rare opportunity to engage with high-stakes AI systems while making a significant societal impact.

Job Description

The doctoral researcher will concentrate on the development and evaluation of AI-based research prototypes tailored for legal applications, emphasizing both technical implementation and real-world deployment.

Core Responsibilities:

• 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.
• Building datasets, benchmarks, and pipelines for legal AI applications.
• Enhancing model architectures, prompting strategies, and retrieval systems in high-stakes environments.
• Conducting pilot evaluations with judicial partners to assess AI tools within real decision-making workflows and translating findings into technical improvements (e.g., new embedding methods, agent architectures, prompting strategies).
• Publishing research results in leading venues in artificial intelligence and computational social science.
• This 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/NLP, combined with practical engineering skills—individuals who understand the intricacies of model functionality while also being capable of building reliable, deployable systems. You:

• 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.
• 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, and evaluating ML systems and deploying applications; this is highly desirable.
• Possess an excellent command of English; German language skills are a plus.

Workplace

Our workplace provides a dynamic environment centered around impactful research and innovation.

We Offer

• Your job with impact: Join ETH Zurich, which not only supports your professional development but also actively contributes to positive change in society.
• Numerous benefits, including public transport season tickets, car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by ASVZ, childcare, and attractive pension benefits.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

Aligned with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity, and nurture a working environment where the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to see how we maintain a fair and open environment that fosters growth and success. Sustainability is a core value for us, and we are dedicated to working toward a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So Are We.

We invite you to apply online using the form below with the following documents:

• A cover letter detailing your relevant experience and motivation for this project.
• Your CV.
• Your academic transcripts.

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

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities specializing in science and technology. Renowned for excellent education, groundbreaking fundamental research, and effective transfer of new knowledge into society, we foster independent thinking and an inspiring environment. With over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries, we create solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow, located in the heart of Europe while forging connections worldwide.