Open Positions

The People-Centered Computing Lab in the Faculty of Informatics at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano, Switzerland is looking for a postdoctoral researcher (PostDoc) in machine learning (ML) and explainable AI (XAI). The position is full-time for up to 3 years and comes with a competitive salary and social security insurances (in accordance with SNSF (Swiss National Science Foundation) regulations and based on prior experience, PostDoc salaries range from CHF 80’000 to 105’000 gross per year).  

The position is funded by an Innosuisse project, “XAI-FinCrime,” which is part of a larger European Research project “Resilient Enterprise – Improving Resilience of Enterprise Workforce and AI to Operational Challenges (ITEA)”. More specifically, in close collaboration with Deloitte Zurich, XAI-FinCrime develops advanced (Gen)AI and XAI solutions to help companies fight against financial crime by reducing inefficiencies. The project will leverage ML to analyze transactional behaviors, and multimodal Large Language Models (LLMs) to process unstructured data. Counterfactual explainers will enhance AI decision understanding, crucial for building trust, ensuring efficiency, and safeguarding compliance. 

Candidates should possess the following: 

• a. PhD (or near completion) in computer science or a related field with a focus on ML.  
• b. Strong research performance, as evidenced by high-quality publications in top-tier ML / AI conferences and journals (e.g., ICML, NeurIPS, IJCAI, AAAI, IMWUT, JMLR). 
• c. Significant experience in student supervision. 
• d. Strong project writing and management skills. 
• e. Strong programming skills, including in Python and DeepLearning libs (e.g., PyTorch). 
• f. Strong command of English, both orally and in writing. 
• g. Previous research on XAI and/or ML in finance is a plus. 

Applications should be sent to marc.langheinrich@usi.ch and martin.gjoreski@usi.ch using the subject line “XAI-FinCrime PostDoc application” and should include the following: 

1. CV with contact information for at least two references 
2. transcript of records for MSc and BSc studies (PhD studies if applicable) 
3. 1-page statement of purpose (research interests & why you think you are a good fit)

By sending in your application, you implicitly accept USI’s Personal Data Processing Notice for Applicants. 

The Faculty of Informatics at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is one of the largest research centers for Computer Science in Switzerland. Its vanguard educational model and passion for scientific research make it an ideal place to start an academic career, as it provides PostDocs with the ability to participate both in cutting-edge research and teaching. Around 200 researchers from around the world conduct research in key Computer Science areas such as AI and Systems on the newly inaugurated Campus EST in the heart of Lugano. 

Application deadline: 1^st of March 2025 (envisioned project start: 1^st of June 2025) 

The People-Centered Computing Lab in the Faculty of Informatics at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano, Switzerland is looking for a candidate for a 4-year PhD-student position in Machine Learning (ML) and Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) applied to financial crime detection.

The PhD position is full-time and comes with a competitive salary and social security insurances (in accordance with SNSF (Swiss National Science Foundation) regulations, PhD student salaries start from CHF 50’000 gross in the first year). Apart from performing research work, the faculty’s PhD program also expects students to complete coursework and acquire teaching experience.

The position is funded by an Innosuisse project, “XAI-FinCrime,” which is part of a larger European Research project “Resilient Enterprise – Improving Resilience of Enterprise Workforce and AI to Operational Challenges (ITEA)”. More specifically, in close collaboration with Deloitte Zurich, XAI-FinCrime will develop advanced (Gen)AI and XAI solutions to help companies fight against financial crime by reducing inefficiencies. The project will leverage ML to analyze transactional behaviors, and multimodal Large Language Models (LLMs) to process unstructured data. Counterfactual explainers will enhance the understanding of AI decisions, crucial for building trust, ensuring efficiency, and safeguarding compliance.

Candidates should possess the following:

1. MSc degree in computer science, computer engineering, AI, or closely related field.
2. Excellent background in ML and experience with ML libraries (e.g., PyTorch)
3. Strong programming skills (especially Python)
4. Fluency in English, both orally and in writing

Applications should be sent to marc.langheinrich@usi.ch and martin.gjoreski@usi.ch using the subject line “XAI-FinCrime PhD application” and should include the following:

1. CV with contact information for at least one reference
2. transcript of records for MSc and BSc studies
3. One-page statement of purpose (research interests & why you think you are a good fit)

By sending in your application, you implicitly accept USI’s Personal Data Processing Notice for Applicants.

The Faculty of Informatics at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is one of the largest research centers for Computer Science in Switzerland. Its vanguard educational model and passion for scientific research make it an ideal place to start an academic career, as it provides PostDocs with the ability to participate both in cutting-edge research and teaching. Around 200 researchers from around the world conduct research in key Computer Science areas such as AI and Systems on the newly inaugurated Campus EST in the heart of Lugano.

Application deadline: 1^st of March 2025 (envisioned project start: 1^st of June 2025)

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