Research Scientist

For nearly seven decades, the IBM Research Zurich Lab has been at the forefront of numerous scientific and technological breakthroughs, some of which have been recognized with awards as prestigious as the Nobel Prize. Building on this distinguished legacy, the Zurich Lab brings together researchers, engineers, and innovators to tackle complex challenges in computing, security, AI, quantum technology, and data systems. Established in 1956 as IBM Research’s first hub outside of the United States, the Zurich Lab plays a central role in shaping the future of computing. This mission is further enabled by the lab’s long-running ties with academia, industry, and the broader scientific community, which have made IBM Research Zurich an important part of the Swiss and European tech landscapes. Today, the lab is home to a uniquely interdisciplinary community that represents over 45 nationalities and spans fields from computer science and engineering to physics and mathematics. Researchers work side by side in state-of-the-art laboratories where scientific discovery delivers real-world impact and breakthrough ideas materialize into deeply influential technologies. According to IBM Research Zurich Lab Director Alessandro Curioni, the next era of computing will be defined not by hardware or software alone, but by the algorithms that connect the two. Through a renewed collaboration with ETH Zurich, IBM Research is now shaping the foundations of a future where artificial intelligence, quantum computing and advanced algorithms converge, enabling us to tackle problems in unprecedented ways. Conduct research on novel quantum and AI-enhanced algorithms for Hamiltonian simulation, with a focus on scalable approaches for ground- and excited-state problems relevant to quantum chemistry and materials science. Contribute to the development of hybrid quantum-classical workflows and advance algorithmic capabilities for emerging quantum computing platforms in collaboration with multidisciplinary research teams. Strong background in applied mathematics, numerical mathematics, and scientific computing, including numerical linear algebra, and eigenvalue problems. Knowledge of quantum computing applications, particularly quantum simulation and Hamiltonian-based methods, together with experience in developing and implementing advanced computational algorithms. Experience with AI and machine learning methods applied to scientific computing, quantum simulation, or computational physics. Familiarity with quantum software development frameworks and research experience demonstrated through scientific publications or equivalent contributions. Switzerland Research Hybrid Entry Level Rueschlikon, CH Rueschlikon (1084) IBM Research GmbH Algorithms Applied Mathematics Artificial Intelligence Computational Physics Machine Learning Mathematics Publications Research Scientific Computing Software Development Quantum Computing Numerical Linear Algebra