PhD: AI Driven Innovation in Higher Education

Are you passionate about the future of education and AI? Join us as a PhD candidate to explore how adaptive AI can enhance innovative teaching and learning. This interdisciplinary project investigates responsible AI integration in higher education from both teacher and student perspectives. Help shape the classrooms of tomorrow.

Your job
This PhD project explores how adaptive AI tools can enhance innovative pedagogies such as Challenge-Based Learning and complex learning environments by fostering higher-order thinking, transdisciplinary collaboration, and active student engagement. The research takes a dual approach, examining the integration of adaptive AI from both teacher and student perspectives to understand how these technologies can support faculty practices and empower students’ learning experiences. It focuses on the responsible and critical integration of AI in educational design, emphasising the development of AI-supported classroom models, faculty practices, and evaluation tools.

The project addresses the urgent need for higher education to adopt AI technologies that support rather than replace human-centred, transdisciplinary, and critical learning approaches. Using mixed methods research and interdisciplinary co-design, the project aims to generate theoretical insights, practical frameworks, and institutional recommendations to guide sustainable AI innovation in university teaching. Your tasks will include:

• designing and conducting empirical studies related to AI-supported teaching innovation;
• writing international publications and a dissertation;
• presenting your research at (inter)national conferences;
• actively contributing to the research community;
• teaching or supervising students (max 10% of your workload).

The supervision team consists of Dr. Despoina Georgiou, Dr. Annemie Struyf, and Prof. Jeroen Janssen.

You combine independence and reliability with a creative, proactive mindset and a strong commitment to academic integrity. With excellent interpersonal and project management skills, you work well with others while effectively handling complex workloads and tight deadlines. Your research reflects a dedication to high-quality, responsible, and forward-thinking scholarship that aligns with the university’s values. Additionally, you have:

• a (research) Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as educational science, educational psychology, behavioral science, artificial intelligence, or a related discipline;
• solid methodological and analytical skills, with experience in conducting qualitative and/or mixed methods research;
• affinity with or a strong interest in AI in education, learning design, and innovative pedagogies such as Challenge-Based Learning;
• excellent academic writing and communication skills in English. Knowledge of Dutch is not required but may be considered an asset.

• A PhD position for 1 year, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment;
• a working week of 36-40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 2,901 and €3,707 (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues. The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.