Summary
The research groups of Prof. A. Lucchi and Prof. I. Bogunovic at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Basel invite applications for a PhD or postdoctoral position focused on Large Language Models (LLMs), including pre-training and post-training. The ultimate goal of this research is to push the capabilities and reliability of modern AI systems on challenging reasoning problems.
PhD or postdoctoral position in the field of LLM Training, University of basel, Switzerland
Designation
PhD or Postdoctoral Researcher (100% position)
Quick Overview
| Aspect | Details |
| Institution | University of Basel |
| Position | PhD or Postdoctoral Researcher |
| Department | Mathematics and Computer Science |
| Funding/Workload | 100% |
| Duration | PhD: Funded for 4 years Postdoc: Initially 2 years (extendable up to 4 years) |
| Start Date | Available starting around October 2026 (may begin later) |
Research Area
Large Language Models (LLMs), Applied Mathematics, and Computer Science. The work will specifically focus on LLM reasoning (including mathematical reasoning and decision-making), adaptation to specialized domains, fine-tuning, and reinforcement learning approaches.
Location
Basel, Switzerland
Eligibility/Qualification
- For PhD Applicants: Must possess a Master’s degree in mathematics, theoretical physics, computer science, or a related field. Prior research experience is advantageous.
- For Postdoctoral Applicants: Must hold, or be close to completing, a PhD in one of the aforementioned areas. Expected to have a strong publication record in machine learning, artificial intelligence, optimization, or related fields.
- General Requirements:
- Exceptional academic record.
- Strong background in machine learning and a robust mathematical foundation.
- Excellent coding and implementation skills, with the ability to run large-scale experiments.
- Fluency in English (spoken and written) and excellent communication skills.
Job Description / Responsibilities
- Conduct ambitious research combining empirical work with conceptual and theoretical insights in applied mathematics and computer science.
- Develop and improve methods for LLM reasoning and study how LLMs can generalize more reliably across tasks.
- Design and run large-scale experiments, fine-tuning protocols, and reinforcement learning approaches.
- Write research papers, articles, and present results at leading international conferences (e.g., ICML, NeurIPS, ICLR, JMLR, AISTATS).
- Interact and collaborate with national and international teams of mathematicians and computer scientists (including collaborators from EPFL and ETH).
How to Apply
Interested candidates must prepare their application as two PDF files containing the following:
- Short motivation statement (maximum 150 words) explaining your interest and justifying why your background is a good fit.
- Curriculum vitae (including a list of publications, if applicable).
- Scanned transcripts of bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
- Contact info for peers who can recommend you (do not include direct recommendation letters).
- Your latest thesis (and/or one of your publications, if applicable).
You can submit these documents via the Apply link on the official job posting.
Last Date for Apply
Applicants are encouraged to send in their applications before July 31, 2026. However, there is no strict deadline, and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.
