How to Participate

CLS researchers participate in Center activities as members, associated members, fellows, or associated fellows.

Faculty membership

Membership is open to all research groups working on topics related to vision and auditory systems, to biological intelligence, to robotics and control, and in particular to learning systems. CLS membership does not preclude membership of other networks.

Full Members: Members form the senior core faculty of CLS. These are usually full professors or directors at ETH and MPI-IS, respectively, whose research covers topics central to the goals of the Center.

Associated Members: Associated members are formed by associated/assistant professors at ETH and independent group leaders at MPI. Moreover, full professors in related areas can also join CLS as associated members.

CLS Senior Fellows: The Center has decided to reach out beyond the network of experts within the two partners, the ETH Zurich and MPI for Intelligent Systems, and seek the involvement of a further select group of outstanding European researchers in machine learning and AI. CLS Senior Fellows participate in meetings of the Center, provide scientific advice and help set the strategic direction, as well as offering PhD supervision.

Applications for membership must be submitted to the Steering Board for approval. Please contact the CLS Coordinator in the first instance.

Postdoctoral researchers

Postdocs working with CLS members can become associated CLS postdoctoral fellows.

Associate postdoctoral fellows have the chance to arrange short term research stays (up to 4 weeks) at the partner institute, with costs covered by the program. In addition, they are invited to join CLS meetings such as the annual retreat, and help shape Center activities by supporting the organization of workshops and events. To apply, please send your CV and a short statement of your research interests and motivation to the CLS Coordinator.

The Center does not currently offer funded postdoctoral positions.

Doctoral researchers

The CLS doctoral training program is a major activity of CLS, providing a dedicated framework for research exchange between the partner institutes, allowing both existing research synergies to be intensified and opportunities for new co-operations and novel projects to evolve.

CLS offers a unique doctoral fellowship program, where PhD students are co-supervised by one advisor from ETH Zurich and one from the MPI for Intelligent Systems in Tübingen and Stuttgart (or one of the CLS Senior Fellows). Each PhD fellow will have a primary location (chosen based on interests and match) and spends one year at the other location as well. All doctoral fellows register as graduate students at ETH Zurich and - upon successful completion of their PhD project - be granted a doctoral degree by ETH Zurich. For more about the program, see Program Basics.

Doctoral fellowships are awarded via an annual selection. For details about eligibility and the application process see How to Apply.

Associate CLS doctoral fellowships – for researchers who have already started their PhD in a group within the Center – are being phased out. New applications are no longer accepted.

Masters students

CLS does not offer a Master’s level structured program. If you are interested in carrying out your Master’s thesis research with a CLS faculty member, please write to them directly with your CV and a covering email.

ETH Masters students carrying out research in areas such as Machine Learning, Perception / Computer Vision, or Robotics who are supervised by CLS members and wish to undertake research at the MPI for Intelligent Systems, may carry out these activities within the framework of the Center Agreement, if agreed and jointly determined by both parties. Funding is not offered. For further details please contact the CLS Coordinator.