PhD position in Machine Learning Engineering Design

Organisation/Company ETH Zürich Research Field Computer science » Other Engineering » Computer engineering Engineering » Electrical engineering Engineering » Other Mathematics » Applied mathematics Mathematics » Computational mathematics Mathematics » Geometry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Final date to receive applications 10 May 2026 - 21:59 (UTC) Country Switzerland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Part-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

PhD 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:

• Formal Systems and Program Analysis
• Self-Supervised Learning
• Intersection of Mathematical Topology and Machine Learning
• Agentic/Multi-Agent coordination for Engineering Design
• Industrial Robotics and multi-robot coordination
• Development of Engineering Benchmarks or Evaluation Frameworks
• Other emerging areas at the intersection of ML/AI and Engineering Design

As a Doctoral researcher, 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 with Master sand/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, Simulation or Robotics
• Having a strong publication record across either competitive journals or Computer Science conference venuesis a plus, but not a requirement, especially for those with practical experience or non-traditional career paths
• Experience with High-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 candidates who may not have had access to certain development opportunities. We will work with any selected candidates to develop targeted competencies on a personalized basis.

We offer

You can look forward to:

• World-class research infrastructure and excellent working conditions guided by our common understanding of a supportiveshared work culture
• Opportunities to work with a diverse, motivated and 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…