Sebastian Engelke

University of Geneva (Switzerland) is recruiting 9 fully funded PhD positions in the FUNDIS (Foundation Models for Scientific Discovery) project. The positions focus on foundation models , self-supervised learning , world models , explainable AI , bio-inspired AI , and AI for scientific discovery , with applications across astronomy , particle physics , climate science , digital humanities , and global governance . Students will work in an outstanding multidisciplinary research environment with close collaboration across AI and domain sciences, strong publication opportunities, and international scientific collaborations. The post highlights competitive Swiss PhD salaries and co-supervision by an interdisciplinary team of PIs including Slava Voloshynovskiy, François Fleuret, Roland Bouffanais, Daniel Schaerer, Pascal Oesch, Stéphane Paltani, Tobias Golling, Sebastian Engelke, Stefan Sperlich, Béatrice Joyeux-Prunel, and Stas Smirnov. This is a PhD-level opening only. No specific eligibility details such as degree background, GPA, or language requirements are stated in the post. Application deadline: 30 August 2026 .

PhD position in statistics at the University of Geneva (GSEM / Research Institute for Statistics and Information Science, RISIS) focused on the intersection of AI weather models , extreme value theory , and climate science . The successful candidate will join Professor Sebastian Engelke ’s research group and work on statistical methods for AI-based weather forecasting systems such as GraphCast , AIFS , and GenCast , with applications to climate extremes and the analysis/prediction of extreme events. This is a PhD assistant position at 80% with an annual gross salary of about 55,000 CHF (approximately 60,000 EUR ). The appointment is on a renewable 2-year contract, with a maximum duration of 5 years. In addition to research, the role includes teaching assistant duties for bachelor’s and master’s courses, such as tutorials, exam preparation, grading, and supervision of master’s theses. Eligibility highlights: a Master’s degree in statistics, probability theory, climate science, or a related field; strong interest in extreme value theory, machine learning, climate science, or weather forecasting; excellent Python skills; and excellent English communication skills. The candidate is expected to enrol in the GSEM PhD in Statistics. Deadline: 31 May 2026 (midnight, Geneva time). Start date: 1 September 2026 or by agreement. How to apply: submit a motivation letter, detailed CV with two references, Bachelor/Master transcripts, and theses if available via the University of Geneva application portal. Email applications will not be considered.

University of Geneva is advertising a PhD position at the Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM) , within the Research Institute for Statistics and Information Science (RISIS) . The position is in the research group of Professor Sebastian Engelke and sits at the intersection of statistics , extreme value theory , machine learning , AI weather forecasting models , and climate science . The project focuses on the statistical analysis of AI-based weather models such as GraphCast , AIFS , and GenCast , as well as methods for understanding and predicting extreme climate and weather events . The successful candidate will enrol in the PhD in Statistics at GSEM and conduct doctoral research on statistical methods for complex extreme events and extrapolation in machine learning methods. This is also a Research and Teaching Assistant appointment at 80% . In addition to research, the candidate will support teaching at bachelor and master level, including tutorials, exam preparation, grading, and supervision of master’s theses. The contract is renewable for 2 years and the assistantship can last up to 5 years in total. Eligibility highlights: Master’s degree in statistics, probability theory, climate science, or a related field; strong interest in extreme value theory, machine learning, climate science, or weather forecasting; excellent Python skills; excellent English; motivation and self-discipline to complete a doctorate. Application deadline: 31 May 2026 (midnight, Geneva time). Applications must be submitted only through the University of Geneva recruitment portal. A motivation letter, detailed CV with two references, transcripts, and theses if available are required. Contact: Professor Sebastian Engelke ([email protected]).

University of Geneva (GSEM / Research Institute for Statistics and Information Science) is advertising a PhD / doctoral assistant position in Statistics focused on the intersection of statistics, extreme value theory, machine learning / AI, climate science, and weather forecasting . The successful candidate will join Professor Sebastian Engelke ’s research group and work on the statistical analysis of advanced AI weather models such as GraphCast, AIFS, and GenCast , with applications to climate extremes and extreme events. The role combines doctoral research with teaching support for bachelor’s and master’s courses, including tutorials, exam preparation and grading, and supervision of master’s theses. Eligibility highlights: a Master’s degree in statistics, probability theory, climate science, or a related field; strong interest in extreme value theory, machine learning, climate science, or weather forecasting; excellent Python skills; and strong English communication skills. The selected candidate is expected to enrol in the GSEM PhD in Statistics. Funding and contract: this is a funded doctoral assistant position at 80% employment. The contract is for 2 years, renewable , with a maximum duration of 5 years . The post includes both research and teaching responsibilities. No specific stipend amount is stated in the post. Deadline: 31 May 2026 (midnight, Geneva time). Start date: 1 September 2026, or by agreement. How to apply: submit a motivation letter, detailed CV with two referees, Bachelor/Master transcripts, and theses if available. Applications must be submitted only through the official University of Geneva portal; email applications will not be considered.