The Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development is offering a 4-year PhD position on exploring innovation and co-creation of humane technologies in preventive health and dementia from a social sciences and humanities perspective. As a PhD student you will work at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development of Utrecht University. 

AI is often assumed to help older citizens remain living independently for longer and help coping with the onset of disease. However, such promises also come with challenges regarding other values like privacy, autonomy or quality of life. 

Your PhD project focuses on humane AI with a special focus on its responsible application in preventive health and dementia care. You will be researching conflicting values and valuations of such technologies, and co-create possible innovation pathways with relevant stakeholders (e.g. technology developers, policymakers, care professionals, citizens) across a range of fieldlabs. The project thus provides a unique opportunity to study ‘innovation in action’. 

As a PhD researcher, you will pursue a PhD in the social sciences and will have the opportunity to enroll, for example, in the graduate training programme of the Netherlands Graduate Research School of Science, Technology, and Modern Culture (WTMC).

The vacancy is part of the ZonMw/NWO funded project QoLEAD (Quality of Life by use of Enabling AI in Dementia), and led by the Expertise Center for Dementia and Technology. The QoLEAD project is an interdisciplinary, multistakeholder collaboration of TU Eindhoven with Maastricht University, Alzheimer Nederland, JAIN-TIGNL, Radboud University, TUDelft, TNO, UMCG, Fontys HS, UT/Tranzo, Rotterdam HS, Utrecht University, Vilans, Avoord, Zonnehuisgroep Amstelland, Tante Louise, SVRZ Servicecentrum, UMCN/UKON, CZ and VGZ. In QoLEAD project partners will develop so-called warm technologies, which are technologies developed in citizen-led fieldlabs to help people with dementia living their lives as independent as possible. These fieldlabs start with what people themselves consider important.

We are searching for a PhD candidate who is passionate about investigating relations between health, technology and ageing in practice. Studying co-creation processes and exploring how technologies developed to support people with (early stages of) dementia are used in practice, is part of this study’s contribution .

Specifically, we are looking for a candidate who:

• has proven affinity with questions relating to science, technology and innovation, and in their embedding in society;
• is interested in studying the development and implementation processes of humane AI, in multistakeholder, citizen-led fieldlab settings;
• has an academic education background in the social sciences or humanities, i.e., a degree in Science and Technology Studies, Innovation Studies, health innovation, or a related social sciences or health discipline;
• has excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;
• has excellent (oral) skills in Dutch (the fieldwork will be conducted in pilots (Field Labs) in The Netherlands);
• is interested in using qualitative methods in research;
• enjoys working in an interdisciplinary team and studying multiple stakeholders and can showcase a proactive attitude and organisational skills in these settings.

You will be offered a temporary position (1.0 FTE), initially for one year with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period. The gross salary ranges between €2,541 in the first year and €3,247 in the fourth year of employment (scale P according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year.

In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). 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 societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth's core to its surface, including man's spatial and material utilisation of the Earth - always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

As a PhD student you will be based at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development: an interdisciplinary research institute hosting 270 researchers and more than 100 PhD students that collectively investigate and develop processes and opportunities for innovative change towards sustainability. The core mission of the Copernicus Institute is to have a positive impact on the transition to a sustainable society. This includes contributing to a better health and well-being.