TU Delft is a top tier university and is exceedingly active in the field of Artificial intelligence. The “Knowledge-Driven AI Lab” (KDAI Lab) is devoted to the development and application of AI in applied sciences. We aim to strengthen today’s data-driven AI through integrating fundamental knowledge of imaging physics.

The transformation of the chemical industry to renewable energy and feedstock supply requires new paradigms for the design of flexible plants. We will bridge chemical engineering and AI to deliver the next generation of intelligent knowledge and decision-making platforms for the chemical engineering field. At the heart of the successful transformation of chemical engineering with AI lays the automated extraction of information and the learning of knowledge from this heterogeneous data.

KDAI has 2 PhD vacancies with application in chemical engineering and energy systems:

(1) Research in data mining and information extraction. Your role is to develop AI algorithms to mine and structure chemical engineering data through natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, deep learning, semantic web technologies, etc.

(2) Research on graph neural networks. Your role is to learn from graph structured data through graph convolutional neural networks, (variational) autoencoders, etc.

• An MSc degree in computer science, chemical engineering, data science, computational engineering science, artificial intelligence, or related fields.
• Demonstrated competences in one or more of these categories: data mining, semantic web, information extraction, graph neural networks, deep learning, computer vision, or related fields.
• An affinity with chemical engineering, energy systems or process systems engineering.
• A proven record and interest in further developing your programming, analytical and scientific writing skills.
• Proficiency in verbal and written
• The ability to work in a team, take initiative, are results oriented and systematic.
• An affinity with teaching and guiding students.

Fixed-term contract: 5 years.

TU Delft offers DAI-Lab PhD-candidates a 5-year contract (as opposed to the normal 4-years), with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2395 per month in the first year to € 3217 in the fifth year.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Applied Sciences

With more than 1,000 employees, including 135 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,400 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we train students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers and science communicators.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

The Department of Chemical Engineering integrates fundamental research and engineering to support and enable sustainable innovation in industry and in society at large. Designing, building and testing novel and improved functional materials and processes, which contribute to energy transition, sustainability and circular economy, is at the core of our research.

KDAI Lab is a Delft Artificial Intelligence Lab. Artificial Intelligence, Data and Digitalisation are becoming increasingly important when looking for answers to major scientific and societal challenges. In a DAI-lab, experts in ‘the fundamentals of AI technology’ along with experts in ‘AI challenges’ run a shared lab. As a PhD, you will work with at least two academic members of staff and three other PhD candidates. In total TU Delft will establish 24 DAI-Labs, where 48 Tenure Trackers and 96 PhD candidates will have the opportunity to push the boundaries of science using AI. You will be a member of the thriving DAI-Lab community that fosters cross-fertilization between talents with different expertise and disciplines.

Each team is driven by research questions which arise from scientific and societal challenges, and contribute to the development and execution of domain specific education. You will receive a 5-year contract and will be deployed for AI-related education for the usual teaching effort for PhD students in the faculty plus an additional 20%. The extra year compared to the usual 4-year contract accommodates the 20% additional AI, Data and Digitalisation education related activities. All team members have abundant opportunities for self-development.

The KDAI Lab is led by Artur M. Schweidtmann and Qian Tao. You will work in the Department of Chemical Engineering in the Faulty of Applied Science and be directly supervised by Artur M. Schweidtmann. You will also closely collaborate with two other PhDs at the Department of Imaging Physics who will be advised by Qian Tao.