PhD student (Doctoral Researcher) in Knowledge Alignment for RNA Language Models (SATURNA) F/M

Role Summary

We are looking for a talented and motivated PhD student to join our interdisciplinary team working at the intersection of computational methods and health science, for the SNF-funded SATURNA (AI for RNA) project. SATURNA is dedicated to decoding the dynamic choreography of RNA to better understand how dynamic processes shape disease states at cellular and molecular scales. The project brings together expertise in artificial intelligence, computational RNA biology, and neuroscience. It is a collaboration between groups at the University of Bern, the Idiap Research Institute, the USI in Lugano, the EPFL in Lausanne, and the National University of Singapore. 

In this PhD position you will work on methods to integrate prior biological knowledge into RNA AI models and enhanced approaches to explanation and interpretation of such models. You will be based in Martigny, Switzerland and affiliated with the EPFL Doctoral Program. You will be expected to conduct high quality research in close collaboration with partners of the SATURNA initiative. 

Your specific tasks will include AI for RNA methods development and conducting high-quality empirical investigations, writing and reviewing scientific publications, and other duties including teaching and outreach.  

The position is for four years, full time, on-site at the Idiap Research Institute, Martigny, Switzerland. 

Your profile

Must have: 

• A recent MSc in a relevant field such as computer science, computational biology or a related quantitative discipline.
• Good communication skills, enthusiasm and scientific curiosity.
• Strong programming skills in Python.
• Experience with analysing biological data.
• High level of motivation for academic research work.
• Good organisation skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English

Nice to have: 

• Experience fine-tuning large AI models for domain-specific tasks.
• Contributions to open-source projects or publicly available research code would be an asset.
• Familiarity with RNA biology would be an asset.

 Reviewing of applications will begin on: July 24, 2026

About Idiap

Idiap is a research institute of national importance that engages in fundamental research, education and technology transfer in artificial intelligence. Idiap offers competitive salaries and conditions in a dynamic, multicultural environment.

Idiap is located in Martigny, Valais, a scenic region in the south of Switzerland, surrounded by the highest mountains of Europe, and offering exceptional quality of life, exciting recreational activities, including hiking, climbing and skiing, as well as varied cultural activities.

At Idiap, we believe that diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. If you believe that you could excel in this role, but you are not sure you meet all the required criteria, we very much welcome your application.

Langues souhaitées

• Anglais - Niveau avancé

Réf: ebc39c41-3c34-4a94-9c35-005c3096f8c8