Doctoral Position in Machine Learning for Engineering Design

ETH Zurich; Zürich; On-site; CHF 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

World-class research infrastructure

Diverse and multicultural team

Professional development and mentoring

Strong track record of placing staff &

Job summary

ETH Zurich's IDEAL Lab invites applications for one to two doctoral positions in Machine Learning for Engineering Design. You will explore self-supervised learning, multi-agent coordination and other ML topics applied to engineering contexts, collaborating with clinicians, industry and national labs.

The role includes publishing and contributing to shared codebases. The position emphasizes scientific excellence, diverse backgrounds, and a strong mentoring environment.

Qualifications

• PhD candidate with strong background in machine learning, artificial intelligence or related fields.
• Interest in engineering design problems and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to communicate research clearly, write publications and contribute to code bases.
• Fluent written and spoken English; readiness to work in an international, multilingual lab.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent or collaborative research in ML for engineering design.
• Publish results in journals and conference venues and contribute to code bases.
• Collaborate with industry, academia and national labs to translate needs into questions.
• Support teaching activities and supervise student theses as needed.

Job description

Doctoral Position in Machine Learning for Engineering Design

The Laboratory for Intelligence in Design Engineering and Learning (IDEAL) in the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering invites applications for one to two doctoral (Ph.D.)positions in the area of Machine Learning for Engineering Design under the guidance of Prof. Mark Fuge, the Chair of Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Design. The general area of the laboratory covers the study of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in the context of Engineering Design problems in domains such as healthcare, power generation, aerospace, and robotics.

Project background

This is a general searchand is not specific to a particular projectso we are prioritizing scientific excellence and fit to the laboratory over any particular topic area.

General areas of current research interest for the lab include, but are not limited to:

• Self-Supervised Learning and Transfer Learning


• Industrial Robotics and multi-robot coordination, particularly Design for Robotic Assembly/Manufacturing


• Agentic/Multi-Agent coordination for Engineering Design


• Formal Systems and Program Analysis


• Intersection of Mathematical Topology and Machine Learning


• Development of Engineering Benchmarks or Evaluation Frameworks


• Other emerging areas at the intersection of ML/AI and Engineering Design

As a Doctoralresearcher, your responsibilities may include:

• Individual or collaborative work on research including writing publications and contributing toward individual or shared code bases


• Collaborating, where relevant, with partners from industry, academia, and national labs to translate real-world needs into scientific or technical questions


• Learning new skills in specialized graduate areas via courses and other educational offerings, or through self-learning


• Assisting with the teaching mission of the laboratory, which includes working withMastersand/or Bachelors thesis students as well as course assistance as needed


• Generally being a good lab citizen by assisting in various shared laboratory administrative tasks shared by the team

Profile

The following are some characteristics that may align well with the position:

• We are open to diverse educational backgrounds of applicants which can include engineering, mathematics, computer science, physicsor other degree backgrounds


• Students in the lab typically have interests in or expertise in one of the following areas: Machine Learning, Optimization, Simulationor Robotics


• Having a strong publication record across either competitivejournals orComputer Science conference venuesis a plus, but not a requirement, especially for those with practical experience or non-traditional career paths


• ExperiencewithHigh-Performance Computing (HPC) environmentsor Software Engineering best practices is a plus, but not a requirement


• You should possess strong English language skillsand the ability to work successfully and collaboratively on diverse, multinational teams

We encourage candidates to apply even if they do not think they possess every point above, particularly for candidateswho may not have had access to certain development opportunities. We will work with any selected candidates to develop targeted competencies on a personalized basis.

Workplace

We offer

You can look forward to:

• World-class research infrastructure and excellent working conditions guided by our common understanding of a supportive shared work culture


• Opportunities to work with a diverse, motivatedand multicultural team in a creative research environment


• An rich intellectual environment within the lab and the university that includes top scholars from across the globe


• Support for personalized professional development and mentoring with the ability to build a strong support network for your future career and be part of a laboratory with a strong track record of placing employees into competitive research positions,professorships and industrial R&D

In line with our values , ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future .

Curious? So are we.

Further information about our labcan be found on our Website . Questions regarding the position should be directed to Mrs Martina Koch, Adm. Assistant, Tel [phone]or [e-mail](no applications).

We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising inscience and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education,cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledgeinto society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find ouruniversity to be a place that promotes independent thinking and anenvironment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe,yet forging connections all over the world, we work together todevelop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.