About me
Hi! I’m Kenza Amara, an AI researcher passionate about making intelligent systems more interpretable, reliable, and truly multimodal. I recently completed my PhD at the ETH AI Center in Zurich, where I explored how large language models and vision–language models reason, what concepts they rely on, and how we can steer their behavior in a transparent and meaningful way.
My work sits at the intersection of explainability, multimodal learning, and alignment. During my PhD, I developed ConceptX, a method that uncovers the key concepts driving an LLM’s responses, as well as new tools for analyzing and improving how VLMs use visual versus textual information in complex reasoning tasks. I love building simple ideas that reveal deep insights into how models “think.”
Before and during my doctorate, I worked in several AI research labs, including Microsoft Research Cambridge, Meta AI, and IBM Research Zurich, where I designed explainability tools, improved GNNs for molecular prediction, and created multimodal evaluation pipelines. Most recently, I also spent time in a stealth robotics startup working on drones, aerodynamics, and 3D modeling — I enjoy taking AI from theory into the physical world.
I studied at École Polytechnique in France and later completed a master’s at ETH Zurich before joining the ETH AI Center as a PhD researcher. Along the way, I have taught machine learning courses, supervised student research projects, and given talks on explainability and multimodal AI. I love communicating ideas and making complex topics intuitive.
Outside of research, you’ll find me exploring new cities, swimming, hiking or skying. Most of all, I’m driven by the goal of building AI systems that are aligned with human reasoning, easy to understand, and empowering for society.
Education
ETH AI Center, Zürich
2021 - 2025
PhD in Computer Science.
ETH Zürich
2019 - 2021.
Master in Environmental Sciences and Policy.
École Polytechnique Paris
2017 - 2019.
Master in Computer Science.
2014 - 2016.
Bachelor of Science & Engineering in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics.
Classes Préparatoires
2014 - 2016.
Two-year intensive preparation courses for the entrance exams to top French Engineering schools (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry).
Personal Information
- Full Name: Kenza Amara
- Location: Zürich, Switzerland
- She/Her
- Year of birth: 1997