University of Basel 
Basel, Switzerland Offer Summary
The University of Basel invites applications for a four-year PhD position in the Post-Training of Diffusion Language Models under Prof. I. Bogunovic. Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, this role focuses on enhancing reasoning capabilities in diffusion-based language models through reinforcement learning and adaptive generation strategies. Candidates will develop benchmarks for evaluating reasoning across domains, including mathematical problem-solving. The ideal applicant holds a Master’s degree in computer science, mathematics, or physics, with strong coding skills and experience in machine learning or generative modeling. Responsibilities include conducting research, publishing at top conferences like NeurIPS and ICML, and collaborating with national and international AI experts. The position starts in January 2027 or later, offering excellent salary, benefits, mentoring, and opportunities for international conference travel. Applications are encouraged before November 20, 2026, though the position remains open until filled.
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Project Description
The research group Rhine AI of Prof. I. Bogunovic at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Basel is inviting applications for a PhD position funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) project "Foundations of Post-Training for Reasoning in Diffusion Large Language Models." The position focuses on post-training large diffusion-based language models (dLLMs), an emerging alternative to standard autoregressive LLMs, to improve their reasoning capabilities. The successful candidate will develop reinforcement learning methods for post-training large dLLMs, explore reasoning-aware generation strategies such as adaptive unmasking and credit assignment, and help build benchmarks for evaluating reasoning across domains, including mathematical problem solving. The ideal candidate has a strong background in machine learning and is excited about large-scale experimentation with modern AI systems, supported by principled analysis where it helps. This work will push the boundaries of what modern AI systems can reliably reason about.
The position is available starting January 2027 or later. The duration of a PhD in Switzerland is 4 years.
Your position
- Conduct research in machine learning and artificial intelligence
- Write research papers and articles, and present results at leading international conferences. We publish in venues such as ICML, NeurIPS, and ICLR
- Interact with national and international teams of AI and machine learning experts
Your profile
Applicants must possess a Master's degree in computer science, mathematics, physics, or a related field. Candidates should have an exceptional academic record and a solid mathematical foundation. They are also expected to have strong coding and implementation skills, with the ability to run large-scale experiments. Experience with LLMs, reinforcement learning, or generative modeling is a plus. Research experience is advantageous but not mandatory.
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.
We offer you
The position will be based in Basel, Switzerland. In addition, we offer:
- Close supervision and mentoring, 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 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:
- Short motivation statement (maximum 150 words) explaining your interest in the position and why your background is a good fit
- Curriculum vitae (including a list of publications, if applicable)
- Scanned transcripts of your bachelor's and master's degrees
- Contact information (no direct recommendation letters) for people who can recommend you
- Your latest thesis and/or one of your publications, if applicable
You are encouraged to apply before November 20, 2026. However, there is no deadline, and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.