Ethel Projects

There are opportunities to carry out masters and semester projects with Ethel and the ETH AI Center. Your thesis project can help the next generation of students, hopefully starting with pilot projects as soon as spring semester 2024.

IMPORTANT: You will need a main academic advisor at your home department or home institution. It is your responsibility to find an academic advisor who will work with you and with us. We can serve as co-advisors and work with you on a regular base.

While Ethel is being built, thesis work will mainly involve software and systems engineering, but you will also work with faculty and students in pilot courses. Projects need to include an evaluation and ideally publication component. The following areas are of particular interest:

• Retrieval Augmented Generation based on lecture scripts, slides, exercises, recordings, and other artifacts generated in STEM courses. In particular:
  • Setting up automated processing pipelines for different content materials
  • Transcription of voice and video images (in particular of blackboard, document camera, and tablet writing and drawings)
  • Document management
• AI-supported assessment
  • Working on AI-assisted formative assessment solutions (homework, exercises)
  • Annotation of freeform learner artifacts (e.g., handwritten problem solutions, derivations, and proofs)
  • Grading support of summative assessments (e.g., quizzes and exams)
• AI for accessibility of learning resources
  • Content processing for learners with disabilities
• AI mathematical abilities
  • Combining generative AI with symbolical and numerical math tools

You will need to master or quickly work your way deeply into a variety of techniques and technologies, including (in no particular order):

• Python
• LangChain LCEL
• Retrieval Augmented Generation and embeddings
• LaTeX
• JavaScript
• Azure Cognitive Services
• Containers
• nginx
• Microservices architecture
• MongoDB/GridFS
• React

Interested? Contact Gerd Kortemeyer,