AI Research Intern, PhD Part-time

Assent is a leading solution provider for supply chain sustainability, recognized for its rapid growth and innovative approach. They are seeking a PhD-level AI Research Intern to join their AI & Innovation team, focusing on developing LLM-driven prototypes that enhance sustainability and compliance platforms.

Responsibilities

• Research and prototype LLM-based agent architectures, exploring task decomposition, reasoning, and collaboration between agents
• Implement and evaluate proof-of-concept AI systems using open-source or proprietary LLM models and frameworks
• Develop scalable experiment pipelines to assess model behavior, safety, and reliability
• Build and optimize Python-based backend components, including prompt chains, vector stores, and evaluation tooling
• Integrate prototypes with internal data systems and APIs, simulating realistic enterprise environments
• Collaborate with ML engineers and product teams to define success metrics and transition promising prototypes toward production
• Document findings in internal research reports, technical memos, and demonstrate the results

Skills

• Currently pursuing a PhD (3+ years completed) in Computer Science, Machine Learning, AI, or a related discipline, available to work 20/hrs per week
• Strong coding and prototyping skills in Python, including familiarity with one or more of: PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar ML frameworks
• Familiarity with LLM agent frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex, DSPy, AutoGen, or Semantic Kernel)
• Familiarity with vector databases (FAISS, Chroma, Pinecone, or Milvus)
• Understanding of RAG and retrieval systems using embeddings and knowledge graphs
• Deep understanding of LLM internals, including prompting strategies, fine-tuning, and model evaluation
• Experience with cloud-based development (AWS) and modern MLOps or LLMOps workflows is an asset
• Strong experimental design, data analysis, and communication skills

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits packages (details vary by country)
• Life leave days
• Corporate bonus program
• Retirement savings options
• Flexible work options
• Volunteer days
• Professional development days

Company Overview