Model Forgetting and Knowledge Removal in Large Language Models

The Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK) is a leading research institution based in Trento, Italy. With over 450 researchers distributed across 12 Research Centers, FBK promotes excellence in science and technology across both technical
and social domains.

The internship is offered within the Intelligent Digital Agents (IDA) Research Unit of the Digital Health & Wellbeing Center. The unit focuses on developing flexible, ethically grounded technologies and digital assistants, with particular attention to Large Language Models, trustworthy AI, multi-agent systems, reasoning, and human-centered AI applications.

More information can be found at https://ida.fbk.eu/

Planned activities

The Research Unit is looking for a Master’s student interested in pursuing an internship experience on Model Forgetting and Knowledge Removal in Large Language Models.

Large Language Models can store or reproduce information acquired during training, including outdated facts, incorrect knowledge, biased associations, or personal and sensitive information. This raises an important research question: how can a model be made to forget specific information while preserving its general capabilities?

The internship will investigate approaches for removing, suppressing, or editing specific knowledge in LLMs. Starting from an open-weight general purpose model, such as Gemma or similar architectures, the intern will explore methods to identify information that should no longer be produced by the model and evaluate strategies to reduce or eliminate its availability in model outputs.

The work will focus on both technical and practical aspects of model forgetting. Relevant applications include the correction of memorized false information, the removal of personal or sensitive data, compliance with privacy requirements, and the development of safer and more controllable AI systems.

Main activities include:
  • Conducting a literature review on model forgetting, machine unlearning, knowledge editing, and privacy-preserving LLM adaptation;
  • Designing experiments to test whether a model has memorized or can reproduce target information;
  • Exploring methods for knowledge removal, such as fine-tuning-based unlearning, negative preference optimization, knowledge editing, or prompt-level suppression;
  • Evaluating the trade-off between forgetting target information and preserving the model’s general performance;
  • Implementing experiments on open-weight LLMs, such as Gemma or similar models;
  • Defining evaluation protocols to measure forgetting, residual memorization, and unintended degradation of model capabilities.
This internship offers experience at the frontier of Large Language Models, trustworthy AI, privacy-aware machine learning, and controllable model adaptation.

Requirements
  • Enrollment in a Master’s degree in one of the following fields: Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Sciences, or related disciplines;
  • Fluent knowledge of English, minimum level B2;
  • Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills;
  • Good adaptability, initiative, and autonomy;
  • Proficiency in Python;
  • Familiarity with Large Language Models, generative AI, and model training;
  • Interest in trustworthy AI, privacy, model evaluation, or efficient adaptation techniques.  
Additional knowledge of open-weight LLMs, Hugging Face, PyTorch, LoRA, model fine-tuning, knowledge editing, or machine unlearning will be considered a plus.

Internship information
  • Internship start date: second semester 2026;
  • Internship experience duration: 6 months;
  • Opportunity reserved for Master’s students;
  • The internship experience will take place at FBK;
  • We offer support in finding accommodation at affiliated facilities, in the case of off-site candidates;
  • We offer the possibility to use the internal canteen service;
  • Possible recognition of participation allowance.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are asked to send their application by email to: Patrizio Bellan – pbellan@fbk.eu

The application must include the following documents in .pdf format:
  • curriculum vitae;
  • motivational letter.

The motivational letter is required to apply.
For any further information, please contact the Human Resources Department at: jobs@fbk.eu
Application deadline: the notice will be withdrawn when the desired applications are reached.