Funded PhD Positions in Machine Learning and Robotics at the Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems (2027 Intake)
Job Description
The Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems is inviting applications for funded PhD positions in machine learning, robotics and related fields, starting in 2027, with joint supervision by ETH Zurich and Max Planck researchers.
At a glance
- Position: CLS doctoral fellowships (PhD), 2027 intake
- Where: ETH Zurich (Switzerland) and the MPI for Intelligent Systems (Stuttgart/Tübingen), the MPI for Informatics (Saarbrücken) or the ELLIS Institute Tübingen (Germany)
- Pay: Fully funded; salary depends on location and group
- Degree: Doctorate awarded by ETH Zurich
- Selection symposium: Tübingen, 1–2 March 2027
- Apply: 2 November 2026, 23:59 CET (all parts of the application, including references)
About the CLS PhD positions in machine learning
- Each fellow has two advisors: one from ETH Zurich and one from the MPI for Intelligent Systems, the MPI for Informatics or the ELLIS Institute Tübingen
- Fellows have a primary location and spend a compulsory 12-month exchange at the other partner
- All fellows register as doctoral students at ETH Zurich, which awards the degree
- Research areas include AI for science, AI safety, causal inference, computer vision, deep learning, efficient and explainable AI, NLP, reinforcement learning, robotics (including soft, medical and bio-inspired robotics), optimisation, probabilistic models, security and privacy, and statistical learning theory
- The programme language is English; project themes are shaped with the advisors within CLS’s research scope
The call names the faculty taking part this year. They include Julia Vogt, Marc Pollefeys, Gunnar Rätsch, Siyu Tang and Florian Dörfler at ETH Zurich, and Bernhard Schölkopf, Bernt Schiele, Christian Theobalt, Katherine Kuchenbecker, Moritz Hardt and Jonas Geiping on the German side. Some ETH faculty take part only as exchange co-advisors. The full list is in the official call for applications (PDF).
Why this role matters
Few PhD programmes give a student two top research ecosystems in two countries. CLS fellows get an ETH Zurich doctorate, supervision on both sides and a year embedded in the second group, so they finish with a broader network and a wider view of the field than a single-lab PhD usually gives. For students from India and elsewhere aiming at research careers in machine learning or robotics, it is one of Europe’s most selective and best-connected doctoral routes.
What CLS is looking for
- An excellent master’s-level degree, held or expected, in a relevant subject such as computer science, physics, engineering, applied mathematics, materials science or neuroscience; bachelor’s-only applicants are not eligible
- Applicants still studying must complete the master’s degree before the PhD contract starts
- A strong interest in basic research in the CLS areas, and willingness to spend time at both partner institutions
- Good written and spoken English; a formal test such as TOEFL is not required, but other evidence of proficiency is
Pay and location
Fellowships are fully funded. CLS does not state the salary in advance: it depends on whether the fellow starts in Germany or Switzerland and on the group, and it changes during the exchange year. Start dates are agreed with the advisor, usually no earlier than 1 April and no later than November. CLS does not provide housing.
How to apply
Apply through the official CLS page. The closing date is 2 November 2026, 23:59 CET (all parts of the application, including references). Applications go through the online portal only; e-mail or postal applications are not considered.
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Hiring institution: Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems (CLS)
Official advertisement: learning-systems.org
How to prepare for this application
- Complete everything on time: the online form, degree certificates and transcripts, CV, motivation letter and 2–3 reference letters must all arrive by 2 November 2026 (23:59 CET). Late references are not accepted.
- Brief your referees early: letters must come from professors or senior supervisors, not PhD students, and the referee link closes at the deadline.
- Choose advisors deliberately: pick from the recruiting faculty on the form and explain how your interests bridge a Zurich and a German group.
- Prepare the research video: long-listed applicants must submit a 2–5 minute video, so outline one research idea you can explain clearly.
- Apply in parallel: CLS says applying to ELLIS, IMPRS-IS or the ETH AI Center at the same time is fine. See also our find a supervisor page.
About the Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems
The Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems (CLS) is a joint research centre of ETH Zurich and the Max Planck Society, mainly the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart and Tübingen. It runs a doctoral programme in which students are co-supervised across the two institutions and receive their doctorate from ETH Zurich, and it forms part of the wider European learning-systems community around ELLIS.
