Doctoral Candidate (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Project) / aligned LLM companions F/M

About the Job

Job Title : Doctoral Candidate (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Project)

Location : Idiap Research Institute, Martigny, Switzerland

Contract Type : Full-time Employment Contract

Duration : 36 Months

Gross Salary : € 4372.40 per month (without employer’s social contribution)

Application Deadline : 18 November 2024

About the Project

We are seeking a highly motivated Doctoral Candidate (DC) to join our research team as part of a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network (DN) project : AlignAI.

The AlignAI Doctoral Network aims to train doctoral candidates in the interdisciplinary Large Language Model (LLM) research field.

It focuses on aligning these models with human values to ensure their development and deployment are ethically sound and socially beneficial.

By integrating expertise from social sciences, humanities, and technical disciplines, the project will address critical issues such as explainability and fairness, ensuring LLMs contribute positively to education, mental health, and news consumption.

The doctoral candidate will focus on personas and prompt templates for aligned LLM companions, investigating how to identify user personas and on how to craft LLM companions that align to values and preferences.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work closely with leading experts in the field.

Eligibility Criteria

• Doctoral Status : Applicants must not own a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment.
• Mobility Rule : Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date.
• Nationality : Open to all nationalities.
• Doctoral Programme Enrollment : You must be willing to enrol in a doctoral programme at EPFL.
• Full-Time Commitment : The position requires full-time commitment with a physical presence at the recruiting institution.

Teleworking is not permitted.

Educational Background / Training : Candidates would preferably hold a Master (or equivalent) degree in a relevant field, have gained experience with transformers and language models, and proficiency in Python and PyTorch / TensorFlow.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research as outlined in the project’s objectives under the supervision of Professor Andrea Cavallaro.
• Engage in secondments as part of the project’s training activities with Professor Christoph Lütge and Professor Carlos Zednik.
• Contribute to academic publications, project reports, and other dissemination activities.
• Participate in structured training programs and network-wide events organised by the consortium.
• Collaborate with international partners and other Doctoral Candidates within the network.

Selection Process

• Application Submission : Applications must be submitted by 18 November 2024.
• Selection Criteria : Candidates will be evaluated based on their academic background, research experience, and alignment with the project’s objectives.

The selection process will be open, transparent, merit-based, impartial, and equitable.

• Interview : Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a structured interview with predefined questions and a scoring system.
• Reserve List : A reserve list of top candidates may be created for future opportunities.
• Selection Committee : The selection committee will comprise diverse experts ensuring gender balance, nationality diversity, and relevant experience.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary : The gross monthly salary is € 4372.40, subject to tax and social security deductions.
• Social Security & Pension : Full coverage under Switzerland’s social security and pension schemes.
• Mobility Allowance : Additional monthly allowance for living costs related to relocation.
• Other Allowances : Family allowance, long-term leave allowance, and special needs allowance will be available if needed.
• Professional Development : Access to high-quality training, networking opportunities, and career development support.

Application Procedure

How to Apply : Submit your certificate, CV, cover letter (e.g., why are you interested in this project and / or what will you bring to this project.

Max two pages), and contact information for two references through https : / / www.idiap.ch / en / careers.

Documentation : Candidates may be required to provide proof of residency history and eligibility criteria.

Timeline : The successful candidates will be invited for interviews by the 6

December 2024, and the final decision will be made by the 13

December 2024.

Additional Information

VISA Support : Where applicable, assistance with VISA and relocation procedures will be provided.

For more information about the project and the application process, please contact Dr Barbara Huguenin at

Equal Opportunity : We are committed to diversity and inclusion in our recruitment process, and we encourage applications from underrepresented groups and all qualified individuals, regardless of nationality, gender, or background.

Note : The recruitment process will adhere strictly to the European Charter for Researchers principles and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.