PhD Researcher - Agentic AI ETH Zürich in Switzerland

PhD Researcher - Agentic AI at ETH Zurich / the Singapore-ETH Centre invites applications for an interdisciplinary PhD project in Future Health Technologies (FHT), focused on developing trustworthy agentic AI for healthcare.

The project addresses the need for reliable conversational and coaching systems that can work across diverse clinical contexts and incorporate multimodal health data, knowledge retrieval, and adaptive decision-making. The research aims to create AI-driven behavioural support systems for applications such as mental well-being, stroke rehabilitation, falls prevention, and chronic disease management.

The PhD student will join a multidisciplinary environment spanning behavioural scientists, clinical psychologists, computer scientists, AI engineers, and health systems researchers, with close collaboration in Singapore with Nanyang Technological University, the National University of Singapore, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and Duke-NUS Medical School.

Core responsibilities include designing and validating an agentic AI platform, developing LLM-based workflows for evidence-based coaching and motivational interviewing, analysing time-series smartphone sensor and usage data, building personalised nudging and adaptive interventions, and developing a cross-platform mobile application with backend infrastructure.

The role also includes supporting clinical validation studies, contributing to ethics submissions and data governance documentation, and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. The position is highly applied and translational, with direct relevance to healthcare innovation and digital health deployment.

Eligibility highlights include a Master’s degree or near completion in a related computing discipline, strong machine learning and Python skills, and an interest in real-world healthcare AI. Experience with LLM integration, mHealth app development, React Native, Django/FastAPI, and AWS is advantageous.

Applications must be submitted via ETH Zurich’s online portal. Required documents are a cover letter, CV with two references, and university transcripts. Questions about the role may be directed to Prof. Florian von Wangenheim at [email protected].