PhD or postdoctoral position in the field of LLM Training (Prof. A. Lucchi and I. Bogunovic)

The research groups of Prof. A. Lucchi and Prof. I. Bogunovic at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Basel invite applications for a PhD or postdoctoral position focused on Large Language Models (LLMs), including pre-training and post-training. The successful candidate will work on developing and improving methods for LLM reasoning, with applications including mathematical reasoning, decision-making, and adaptation to specialized domains. The project will involve designing and running large-scale experiments, developing fine-tuning and reinforcement learning approaches, and studying how LLMs can generalize more reliably across tasks and reasoning domains. We are looking for candidates with a strong background in machine learning, excellent implementation skills, and an interest in combining ambitious empirical work with conceptual and theoretical insights. The goal of this work is to push the capabilities and reliability of modern AI systems on challenging reasoning problems.

Position available starting around October 2026 (position may begin later as well). The PhD position is funded for four years. The postdoctoral position is initially for two years, with the possibility of extension up to four years.
Your tasks include:

• Conduct research in the field of applied mathematics and computer science
• Write research papers, articles, and present results at leading international conferences. We publish in venues such as ICML, NeurIPS, ICLR, JMLR, AISTATS, and more
• Interact with national and international teams of mathematicians and computer scientists

PhD applicants must possess a Master's degree in mathematics, theoretical physics, computer science, or a related field. Postdoctoral applicants must hold, or be close to completing, a PhD in one of these areas. Candidates should have an exceptional academic record, a strong background in machine learning, and a robust mathematical foundation. They are also expected to have strong coding and implementation skills, with the ability to run large-scale experiments. Prior research experience is advantageous for PhD applicants, while postdoctoral applicants are expected to have a strong publication record in machine learning, artificial intelligence, optimization, or related areas.
Excellent communication skills and fluency in English (spoken and written) are required.
We also seek to increase the number of women and other groups in areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourage such groups to apply.
The position will be based in Basel, Switzerland. In addition, we also offer the following:

• Close supervision of your research, working with and access to national (EPFL and ETH among others) and international collaborators
• A diverse range of tasks in a dynamic environment
• The possibility of traveling to international conferences to meet with distinguished scientists
• Excellent salary, benefits, and working conditions

Application / Contact
 
If interested, please send us an application as described below.
Your application should include **two pdf files** containing the following files:

• Short motivation statement (maximum 150 words) explaining your interest in the position and justifying why your background is a good fit for the position
• Curriculum vitae (including a list of publications, if applicable)
• Scanned transcripts of bachelor's and master's degree
• Contact info (no direct recommendation letters) for peers who can recommend you
• Your latest thesis (and/or one of your publications, if applicable)

 
You are encouraged to send your application before July 31, 2026. However, there is no deadline for applying, and the position will be open until a suitable candidate is found.