As the prospective PhD candidate on this 5-year project, you will perform research on the target topic, develop novel algorithms and software, validate them through well-designed experiments, publish the results at international conferences and scientific journals, and complete a PhD thesis. Furthermore, you will contribute to teaching by supervising tutorial groups and student projects, and by co-teaching courses. This can possibly lead to a basic teaching qualification (BKO). Teaching commitments are limited to a maximum of 30% of employment time.

Topic: Learning Analytics
You will join the Software Technology for Learning and Teaching group of Professor Johan Jeuring to conduct research in the emerging field of Learning Analytics. This project will look into developing technologies, methods and tools that leverage large volumes of data generated by students working with online educational tools and resources to improve learning and teaching. In particular, it will focus on design, implementation and evaluation of educational data-driven interfaces that positively affect students’ motivation and learning. You will work under the daily supervision of Dr Sergey Sosnovsky.

We are looking for a candidate who is enthusiastic and dedicated, and who has:

• a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Science or a related field;
• an ability to develop web-based interfaces and environments;
• a strong motivation for research and teaching in information or computer science;
• previous experience in computer-based educational technology;
• hands-on knowledge of statistical analysis;
• good communication skills in English, both in speech and in writing.

We offer an exciting opportunity to contribute to an ambitious and international education programme with highly motivated students and to conduct your own research project at a renowned research university. You will receive appropriate training, personal supervision, and guidance for both your research and teaching tasks, which will provide an excellent start to an academic career.

In addition, you will have:

• the opportunity to work in a collaborative, social, and dedicated teams of Researchers;
• a full-time position for 5 years;
• a full-time gross salary that starts at €2,395 and increases to €3,061 per month (scale P of the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities (cao));
• benefits including 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.

In addition to the employment conditions laid down in the cao for Dutch Universities, Utrecht University has a number of its own arrangements. For example, there are agreements on professional development, leave arrangements and sports. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment yourself via the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we like to encourage you to continue to grow.

More information about working at the Faculty of Science can be found here.

The Department of Information and Computing Sciences is nationally and internationally renowned for its fundamental and applied research in computer science and information science. In our constantly changing (digital) society, the Department of Information and Computing Sciences is constantly looking for new, realistic ways to push the boundaries of both science and social application. We contribute to innovative information technologies through the development and application of new concepts, theories, algorithms, and software methods. Relevant areas of interdisciplinary research include Game Research, Foundations of Complex Systems, Applied Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

The department has, among others, close collaborations with the University Medical Center, the Departments of Physics and Mathematics, and the Faculties of Humanities and Geosciences. The department offers Bachelor's programmes in Computer Science and Information Science, and six English language Research Master's programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Business Informatics, Computing Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Game and Media Technology, and Applied Data Science. High enrolment figures and good student ratings make the education very successful.

At the Faculty of Science there are 6 departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Physics. Each of these is made up of distinct institutes which work together to focus on answering some of humanity’s most pressing problems. More fundamental still are the individual research groups – the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects.

Utrecht University is a friendly and ambitious university at the heart of an ancient city. We love to welcome new scientists to our city – a thriving cultural hub that is consistently rated as one of the world’s happiest cities. We are renowned for our innovative interdisciplinary research and our emphasis on inspirational research and excellent education. We are equally well-known for our familiar atmosphere and the can-do attitude of our people. This fundamental connection attracts Researchers, Professors and PhD candidates from all over the globe, making both the university and the Faculty of Science a vibrant international and wonderfully diverse community.