PhD Student in Law

Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich; Zürich; Vor Ort; CHF 42.000 - 52.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

ETH Zurich invites applications for a PhD Student in Law as part of the SNSF-funded project “Responsible AI for the Swiss Judiciary.” The doctoral position combines legal analysis with empirical methods to study AI's role in judicial decision-making. Based in Zurich, the PhD candidate will explore legal reasoning, design experiments, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team.

Proficiency in English is essential; German is a plus.

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in law from a Swiss university.
• Strong interest in judicial decision-making and legal reasoning.
• Interest in interdisciplinary research at the interface of law, AI, and social science.
• Willingness to learn experimental and quantitative research methods.
• Excellent command of English; German and/or French are a plus.

Aufgaben

• Study judicial decision-making and legal reasoning in the presence of AI tools.
• Contribute to the development of experimental designs and evaluation frameworks for AI-assisted decision-making.
• Collaborate with the technical team to study interactions between AI systems and legal users.
• Publish research findings in leading journals and present at international conferences.
• Position designed for a cumulative PhD at the intersection of law, computer science, and empirical social science.
• Our offices are located in downtown Zurich; working languages are German and English.

Kenntnisse

Legal research

Quantitative methods

Interdisciplinary

Experimental design

Ausbildung

Master in Law

Tools

R

Python

Statistical software

Jobbeschreibung

As part of the SNSF-funded project “Responsible AI for the Swiss Judiciary”, we work on real-world applications of artificial intelligence for the Swiss judiciary in close collaboration with courts and partners across Switzerland. We are looking for aPhD Student in Law.This doctoral position is part of the SNSF-funded project “Responsible AI for the Swiss Judiciary” at ETH Zurich. The project provides a unique opportunity to study judicial decision-making in a real-world institutional setting, combining legal analysis with experimental and empirical methods.

The doctoral researcher will focus on the role of AI in judicial decision-making, with an emphasis on legal reasoning, behavioral responses, and institutional implications.

Core responsibilities include:

• Studying judicial decision-making and legal reasoning in the presence of AI tools
• Contributing to the development of experimental designs and evaluation frameworks for AI-assisted decision-making
• Collaborating with the technical team to study the interaction between AI systems and legal users
• Publishing research findings in leading journals and presenting at international conferences
• The position is designed for a cumulative PhD at the intersection of law, computer science, and empirical social science
• Our offices are located in downtown Zurich, and the working languages are German and English

Profile

We are looking for candidates who:

• Hold an excellent bachelor’s and master’s degree in law from a Swiss university
• Have a strong interest in judicial decision-making and legal reasoning
• Are interested in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of law, AI, and social science
• Are motivated to work with quantitative empirical methods and are willing to acquire skills in experimental and quantitative research
• Have an excellent command of English; German and/or French language skills are a plus

Workplace

We offer

• Your job with impact: Become part of ETH Zurich, which not only supports your professional development, but also actively contributes to positive change in society

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 the Center for Law & Economics can be found on our Website . Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Jakob Merane ([e-mail] )(no applications).

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.