Research IBM Pre-doctoral Researcher Dublin, IE

International Business Machines Corporation; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 36,000 - 44,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Resources at IBM Research

PhD salary funded

Tuition funding for PhD

Job summary

IBM Research Europe and Trinity College Dublin offer a fully funded four-year PhD position in AI and security, hosted in Dublin. The selected student will be registered at TCD and employed by IBM for the duration, with access to IBM Research and TCD expertise and a substantial salary above €40,000 per year.

The role focuses on threat modelling, red-teaming, and developing safe, auditable AI systems, with opportunities to publish and contribute to cutting-edge research.

Qualifications

• Bachelors in computer science, applied mathematics, engineering or similar.
• Basics of ML and AI; ability to evaluate literature and publish findings.
• Strong coding skills in Python and experience with ML libraries.

Responsibilities

• Analyse threat models, attack surfaces and red-teaming techniques.
• Develop defenses (blue-teaming) for trustworthy AI systems.
• Collaborate with IBM Research and Trinity College Dublin on publications.
• Move quickly from ideas to software prototypes for evaluation.

Skills

ML fundamentals

Python

Version control

Research

English

Prototyping

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Tools

PyTorch

Pandas

Job description

## IBM Pre-doctoral ResearcherDublin, Dublin, IrelandInternship* Email* X* LinkedInApply nowIntroductionAt IBM Research, we are the innovation engine of IBM. Exploring what's next in computing and shaping the technologies the world will rely on tomorrow. From advancing AI and hybrid cloud to pioneering practical quantum computing, we anticipate challenges and unlock new opportunities for clients, partners, and society. Working in Research means joining a team that accelerates discovery at the intersection of high-performance computing, AI, quantum, and cloud. You'l collaborate with leading scientists, engineers, and visionaries to push boundaries and turn ideas into reality. With a culture built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, IBM Research offers the opportunity to grow your career while contributing to breakthroughs that transform industries and change the world. AI systems with embedded large language models (LLMs), like AI Agents, demonstrate significant potential for solving complex tasks by dynamically adapting to feedback and refining their strategies. However, ensuring responsible, safe, and secure deployment is crucial, as these systems face privacy and security risks from malicious actors - be it leakage of confidential information, or injections for adversarial behaviour. This project will focus on systematically analysing threat models, attack surfaces, and exploitation techniques (red-teaming) to identify critical risks in industrial contexts and develop effective defences (blue-teaming). This is key to building trustworthy systems for the future.Your role and responsibilitiesThis is a fully funded 4-year PhD position at the intersection of AI and Security as part of a new initiative between IBM Research Europe and Trinity College Dublin (TCD). The selected student will be registered at TCD and employed by IBM for the duration of the PhD with the following benefits: Access to resources and expertise at IBM Research and TCD A substantial PhD salary (>40,000 euro per annum) TCD PhD program fees (EU or non-EU level) fully fundedRequired educationBachelor's DegreePreferred educationMaster's DegreeRequired technical and professional expertise* A degree in computer science, applied mathematics, engineering or similar.* Basics of Machine Learning and AI: knowledge of ML fundamentals.* Programming skills: Python, version control, ability to write complex code from scratch and extend existing code.* Interest in performing research - including evaluation of existing literature, ideation, authoring research publications.* Ability to move quickly from idea to software prototype for evaluation and demonstration.* Excellent spoken and written EnglishPreferred technical and professional experience* Knowledge of GenAI approaches: model architectures, fine-tuning, transfer learning.* Advanced programming skills: Python, data preprocessing (pandas), experience with AI/ML libraries such as Pytorch is beneficial.* Previously published academic papers.### ABOUT BUSINESS UNITIBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines 'What's Next in Computing' to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large-scale quantum computing. Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.### YOUR LIFE @ IBMIn a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.Are you ready to be an IBMer?### ABOUT IBMIBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.### OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILSFor additional information about location requirements, please discuss with the recruiter following submission of your application.Job TitleIBM Pre-doctoral ResearcherJob ID138188City / Township / VillageDublinState / ProvinceDublinCountryIrelandWork arrangementHybridArea of workResearchEmployment typeFixed Term (Fixed Term)Position typeInternshipTravel requiredSome travel may be required based on business demandCompany(0066) IBM Ireland LimitedShiftGeneral (daytime)Is this role a commissionable/sales incentive based position?No