Job Description

We have two exciting new PhD positions in the area of foundations of agentic/LLM-based reasoning. The successful candidates will investigate novel neuro-symbolic methods which are capable of delivering controlled reasoning targeting complex real-world problems in areas such as engineering design and scientific inference. Areas covered by the project include equational, mechanistic, geometrical and simulation-based reasoning, framed in an Agentic/LLM-reasoning setting.
This is an exciting opportunity for candidates who would like to work on the foundations of agentic reasoning, in close dialogue with complex real-world problems.
Essential requirements:

• BSc and MSc in computer science, or related areas.

• Experience in the construction of NLP and ML models evidenced by academic or industrial projects.

• Python programming.

• Confident in the development of complex computational pipelines.

• Good command of English (spoken and written).

• Previous publications are a plus.

As this is part of a Marie Curie Doctoral Network (GenAIDE), the following mobility rule applies: Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date.
Application deadline: October 3rd, 2025
The IDIAP Research Institute has been among the leaders in Switzerland in artificial and cognitive intelligence since 1991. Voice and visual recognition, natural language processing, machine learning, human-machine interaction and robotics are some of the research fields at the Institute. Based in Martigny, in the Swiss Alps, Idiap is involved in research projects at local, national and international levels in both fundamental and applied research settings. The Institute is affiliated with the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL).
At Idiap we place great emphasis on diversity and we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. Employment at Idiap is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications. Idiap does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, marital status, pregnancy, or any other basis protected by law.
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Skills Required