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.