PhD position in “Immersive human-AI interaction and cooperation for technical industry.” (1 FTE)

Department: Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence
Location: Tilburg 
Full-time equivalent: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)
Monthly full-time gross salary: € 2.901 (first year) - € 3.707 (fourth year)
Duration of employment contract: 12 months + optional 3 years

Your position
The Cognitive Science & Artificial Intelligence department at Tilburg University invites applications for one fully-funded PhD position in the area of Human-AI Collaboration in Manufacturing embedded within the NWO AiNed Funded ELSA-lab for Technical Industry (ELSA4TI) at Tilburg University. The PhD will work on a daily basis at the Virtual Reality and Extended Reality Lab (VR/XR-Lab, Mindlabs) in Tilburg) and perform experiments at the Brainport Digital Factory, at Brainport campus in Eindhoven. The position will be supervised by dr. Ifigeneia Mavridou (CSAI, TSHD), Prof. mr. dr. Sofia Ranchordás (PLG, TLS) and Prof. dr. Eric Postma (CSAI, TSHD).

The project:
The ELSA4TI project is a collaboration of research groups from the University of Groningen, Twente University, and Tilburg University. 

The Tilburg PhD researcher will create an XR-based regulatory sandbox as a controlled environment to investigate the Ethical, Legal, and Societal Aspects (ELSA) of the use of AI in the industrial workplaces. The focus is on AI-assisted industrial assembly tasks, where smart systems guide and support human workers.  

Using immersive virtual environments and real-time physiological and behavioral sensing—including facial expressions, facial muscle activation (EMG), eye tracking, body movements, heart rate variability, and electrodermal activity (EDA)—the project aims to conduct in-depth research into which types of human data are most valuable for building adaptive and intelligent AI support systems. These signals will be used to detect affective reactions during human-AI interaction, such as confusion, stress, or fatigue, enabling context-aware AI responses. At the same time, the project critically examines the technical feasibility and legal-ethical boundaries of using such data, especially when these data relate to emotional or cognitive states and fall under regulatory constraints such as those outlined in the AI Act.

Specifically, the researcher will focus on three main tasks: 
(a)    Designing scenario variations in Unity3D, using virtual replicas of industrial environments provided by project partners (e.g. an AI-assisted assembly line);
(b)    Conducting user studies to evaluate how adaptive AI guidance—tailored to user traits (e.g. handedness or colorblindness) and inferred states—affects task performance, emotional response, stress, and acceptance of the technology;
(c)    Assessing which types of input data are essential for personalization, which are sensitive or restricted, and how these affect worker trust and perceptions of safety and fairness.
For example, some traits (such as handedness) may be known in advance, while others—like a preference for color-based or continuous cues—may need to be inferred from behaviour. Facial and physiological signals can reveal moments of confusion or frustration, but raise considerable privacy concerns, making it essential to test these technologies in a safe, ethically governed setting—hence the development of the XR sandbox.

The goal is to test innovative AI-support-technologies scenarios motivated by real use cases provided by industrial partners. The PhD researcher will assess the impact of adaptive AI guidanceon worker performance and well-being, and formulate recommendations for policymakers, in collaboration with our consortium partners including Brainport, Mindlabs, industrial partners, and relevant regulators.The studies will be performed at the VR/XR Lab in MindLabs, Tilburg, and at the Brainport Digital Factory in the Innovation BIC, Eindhoven.

The ELSA4TI project uses a futuring approach (i.e. envisioning and planning for potential futures) to help Dutch manufacturing SMEs adopt AI in a legally compliant, ethically sound, socially equitable, and economically sustainable manner. It addresses the slow AI adoption due to complex ethical, legal, societal, and economic considerations, which could impact global competitiveness and increase inequalities. 

The Virtual and Mixed Reality Lab (VR/XR Lab) in the MindLabs building at Tilburg University provides the space and equipment to study learning, behavior, performance, movement, and physiological responses in interaction with virtual, augmented, or mixed reality. Managed by Dr. Phillip Brown and Dr. Ifigeneia Mavridou from the Department of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence (CSAI), the lab facilitates research into immersive technologies, offering expertise and advice for conducting VR/AR/XR research.

The Brainport Digital Factory (BDF) is an open innovation hub located at Brainport Industries Campus (BIC) in Eindhoven, where industry, technology providers, and researchers collaborate to accelerate the adoption of smart manufacturing (see Brainport Digital Factory). BDF provides a large-scale industrial testbed, including a fully operational demonstration line where digital manufacturing solutions are developed, tested, and validated in a real-world production setting. These include low-code machine control, AI-driven optimization, digital twins, real-time analytics, edge computing, private 5G networks, secure industrial connectivity, augmented reality (AR) and collaborative robotics. The environment also serves as a real-life testbed for applied research, offering PhD candidates the opportunity to validate and explore novel industrial technologies in collaboration with academic and industrial partners.

Connection to industry: 
The ELSA4TI research consortium of RUG, UT, and TiU, includes a diverse group of companies that provide real-world use cases for AI implementation in industry. The partners include OMRON, Prespective Digital Twin Solutions, Cordis, Noldus, Voortman Steel Machinery, Sensata Technologies, PCL (Philips Consumer Lifestyle B.V.), Flowbeams, Gasunie, and the Innovation Cluster Drachten. In addition ABB, TNO, FME, and van Raam provide support.

Your qualifications

• Master’s degree in computer science, cognitive science, HCI, VR, artificial intelligence, or related fields.
• Strong algorithmic and programming skills (Python).
• Good understanding of multimodal signal processing and analysis skills (e.g. HR, EMG, EDA) 
• Interest (and ideally, research and coding experience) in Unity3D (simulation engine), in deep learning techniques and frameworks (Pytorch, TensorFlow), Human-Machine Interaction and Affective Computing.
• Affinity/ interest in:
  ◦    ethical, legal and societal aspects (ELSA),
  ◦    legal implications of using digital technology
  ◦    human factors and human-computer interaction (HCI)
  ◦    user-centred and participatory design methodologies
  ◦    well-being and user experience
• Excellent knowledge of English and good academic writing skills.

Appointment and salary 

This PhD position will be employed at Tilburg University. We offer:

• A full-time position.
• The selected candidate will start with a contract for one year. Upon a positive outcome of the first-year evaluation, the candidate will be offered an employment contract for the remaining three years.
• A minimum gross salary of  € 2.901 per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 3.707 in the fourth year;
• A holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% (annually);
• Candidates from outside the Netherlands may qualify for a tax-free allowance. During the first 20 months, 30% of the salary will be reimbursed untaxed. In the next 20 months, this percentage drops to 20% and during the last 20 months, the untaxed reimbursement is 10% of the salary. The university will apply for such an allowance on their behalf;
• Assistance in finding accommodation (for foreign employees);
• The opportunity to perform cutting edge research in a large-scale science project involving TiU, Twente University, Groningen University, and several commercial partners bringing together expertise of several senior researchers;
• Support for your personal development and career planning including participation in courses, summer schools, conference visits, research visits to other institutes (both academic and industrial), etc.;
• A broad package of fringe benefits (including excellent technical infrastructure, savings schemes and excellent sport facilities).

The collective labor agreement of the Dutch Universities appliesTilburg University offers excellent employment conditions. We think flexibility, professional and personal development, and good employee benefits are important. Tilburg University values an open and inclusive culture. We embrace diversity and encourage the mutual integration of groups of employees and students. We focus on creating equal opportunities for all our employees and students, so that everyone feels at home in our university community.
 

Tilburg University has a lively campus in beautiful green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport. We are committed to a sustainable society and challenge you to make an active contribution.
 

Please visit working at Tilburg University   for more information on our terms of employment. 

Research and education at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) has a unique focus on humans in the context of the globalizing digital society, on the development of artificial intelligence and interactive technologies, on their impact on communication, culture and society, and on moral and existential challenges that arise. The School of Humanities and Digital Sciences consists of four departments: Communication and Cognition, Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Culture Studies and Philosophy; several research institutes and a faculty office. Also the University College Tilburg is part of the School. Each year around 275 students commence a Bachelor or (Pre) Master Program. The School has approximately 2000 students and 250 employees.

Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences

More detailed project information can be provided on request: please contact dr. Ifigeneia Mavridou (i.mavridou@tilburguniversity.edu )