Student Research Assistant in Unity Frontend & LLM Backend Development for Digital Einstein 10%-30%

ETH Zurich; Zürich; On-site; CHF 21,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

ETH Zurich's Computer Graphics Laboratory seeks a Student Research Assistant to support the Digital Einstein AI avatar platform, spanning Unity frontend and a Python-based LLM backend. You will build interactive experiences, integrate models, and help with real-time rendering and dialogue management.

The role involves on-site event support, weekly team meetings, and a flexible workload around 15 hours per week during the semester, with potential more during breaks.

Qualifications

• Strong programming skills and practical software development experience.
• Experience with Unity and C#.
• Experience with Python and large language models (LLMs) or related AI services.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the Unity frontend for the Digital Einstein platform, including UI components and real-time rendering features.
• Develop and maintain the Python/LLM backend for interactive conversations and model integration.
• Test and improve reliability and latency of the system.
• Provide on-site support at selected events and demonstrations.
• Participate in weekly team meetings.
• Work ~15 hours/week during the semester, with potential more during breaks.

Skills

Unity

C#

Python

LLM APIs

Teamwork

Education

Enrolled student

Job description

The Digital Character AI team at ETH Zurich's Computer Graphics Laboratory is looking for a Student Research Assistant to support the development of our interactive AI avatar platforms across both the Unity frontend and the LLM-based backend. Our work focuses on lifelike digital humans powered by large language models, affective computing, speech technologies, and real-time rendering. Our systems have been deployed at high-profile international events such as the World Economic Forum, Berlin Science Week, and GITEX. You can learn more about the Digital Einstein project here.

Project background

Digital Einstein is an AI avatar platform that brings Albert Einstein to life as an interactive conversational agent. The system combines a Unity-based frontend for real-time character rendering, animation, and interaction with a Python-based backend that orchestrates large language models, dialogue management, speech processing, memory, and other AI components. We are currently extending the platform to additional interactive digital characters. We are looking for a student assistant who can contribute across the complete system - from Unity-based user experiences and character interaction to LLM-driven dialogue and backend services.

Job description

• Develop and maintain the Unity frontend for the Digital Einstein platform, including UI components, interaction flows, character behaviours, and real-time rendering features
• Develop and maintain the Python/LLM backend for interactive conversations, including the integration and evaluation of large language models and related AI services
• Test and improve the reliability, latency, and overall interaction quality of the system
• On‑site support at selected events and demonstrations
• Participate in weekly team meetings (1‑2 hours) to discuss progress and plan next steps
• Workload: approximately 15 hours/week during the semester, with the possibility of working more during semester breaks

Profile

• Enrolled student at ETH Zurich or another Swiss university
• Strong programming skills and practical software‑development experience
• Experience with Unity and C#
• Experience with Python
• Experience with or strong interest in large language models, including LLM APIs, prompting, agentic systems, or dialogue systems
• Reliable, proactive, and comfortable working independently as well as in a team
• Willingness to provide occasional on‑site event support, including on weekends
• German language skills are a plus

We offer

• Hands‑on experience with a high‑profile AI avatar platform showcased at international events (World Economic Forum, GITEX, and others)
• Exposure to a cutting‑edge research environment spanning real‑time graphics, large language models, and affective computing
• Regular 1‑on‑1 mentoring and weekly team meetings
• Collaborative, international team at ETH Zurich's Computer Graphics Laboratory

> Working, teaching and research at ETH Zurich

We value diversity and sustainability

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 research can be found on our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Rafael Wampfler at [e-mail] (no applications).

Interviews are expected to take place in December 2026. The start date is January 1, 2027.

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