PhD candidate at Tilburg University and the Elisabeth Tweesteden Ziekenhuis in Tilburg

The Cognitive Science & Artificial Intelligence department at Tilburg University invites applications for one fully-funded multidisciplinary PhD position in the area of developing and implementing artificial intelligence driven e-health applications for healthcare. You will also be embedded at the Elisabeth Tweesteden Ziekenhuis in Tilburg.

Healthcare staff face significant burdens in several domains. For example, venipunctures fail or take long due to needle anxiety, venous hemoglobin measures are expensive and require needles, and staff in Geriatrics must manually assess pain experience in patients with communication barriers, whereas Radiology spends time in manually assessing medical imaging. To tackle these issues, three AI-driven image analysis solutions have been developed previously by the members of this project team. However, even though many of such solutions are developed for healthcare, only few are seen through to application to other healthcare problems or to the stage of implementation. 

The project: 
You will work on the WeCare project “IMPACT-ETZ – Image-based Medical Processing and AI for Clinical Transformation at ETZ”, led by dr. Elisabeth Huis in ‘t Veld (Tilburg University), and Bachtiar Burhani, MD (Neurosurgery, ETZ).

The aim of this project is to further develop, validate, and/or implement four scalable and user-friendly AI tools (in several phases of development) to their next phase, through validation, co-design and strategic implementation (see Tasks). The co-design and implementation of these tools with stakeholders will be performed  through a dedicated WP, taking into account the frameworks for implementation.

The four tools are:

1. AINAR: an AI driven serious game to conquer needle fear (see https://www.ainar.io);
2. PAINAR: a suitable method for automated pain assessment using facial analysis similar to AINAR (to be developed);
3. NAIL: an AI driven app to assess hemoglobin measurements through fingernail photographs (in prototype phase);
4. KAHLER: AI-assisted osteolytic lesion detection and monitoring (see See Botafwijkingen sneller herkennen dankzij Artificial Intelligence, and Implementatie van een geoptimaliseerd AI-model voor het ontdekken en monitoren van osteolytische botletsels).

The project team is multidisciplinary. You will be closely supervised by experts on image analysis and (e)health app development from the CSAI department (dr. Elisabeth Huis in ‘t Veld, dr. Sharon Ong, dr. Judita Rudokaité, dr. Samaneh Koshrou, and prof. Pieter Spronck), collaborate with prof. dr. Carol Ou of the Department of Information Systems and Operations Management (Tilburg School of Economics and Management). From the ETZ, physicians and staff from Neurosurgery, Geriatrics, Radiology, the KCHL laboratory, Anesthesiology, Orthopedic surgery and Medical Physics are closely involved in their respective work packages. Also, you will work with dr. Itir Onal Ertugrul from Utrecht University.

Your tasks
The Tilburg PhD researcher will work on five work packages, together with dedicated members of that Work Package. 

WP1: Coordinate an (online) quantitative online study that assesses the efficacy of the AINAR game and analyse the data (using statistics). (Possibly collect and) analyze video data of patients in the hospital prior to undergoing a venipuncture and cross-validate the (existing) image analysis models on this new data.

WP2: (Coordinate and/or) collect video data of patients at orthopedics in combination with patient-reported pain ratings, and video data of patients at Geriatrics in combination with nurse-reported pain ratings. Apply image analysis techniques on this data to estimate pain expressions, develop a minimum working prototype of a possible solution able to monitor pain in nonverbal patients.

WP3: Coordinate the (online) data collection of fingernail images and laboratory hemoglobin measurements. cross-validate models (currently under development using different data) on this new dataset, further develop an existing minimal working prototype of an app able to ‘scan’ fingernails for remote Hb assessment.

WP4: Assist in reader studies with radiologists and radiology residents to assess the clinical performance of using an AI tool vs not using it.

WP5: Perform above mentioned development tasks while iteratively conducting interviews and surveys with stakeholders, co-design, and distill outcomes in a framework and plan of action for the WPs in developing the prototypes

For a more detailed description, please contact dr. Elisabeth Huis in ‘t Veld.

Firstly, we understand that no candidate will meet every single requirement. If you are excited about this position but do not tick every box, we still encourage you to apply. In your application, tell us not only about the qualifications you bring but also about the areas you are eager to develop further and how you foresee doing that. We invite candidates of all genders, ethnicities, and orientations. If you hesitate about your fit with the profile, please contact the project lead dr. Huis in ‘t Veld. 

Your qualifications:

• Requirement: You will need to apply for a certificate of good conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, see rijksoverheid.nl).
• Master’s degree in data science, artificial intelligence, computer science, health technology implementation/ psychology / health or cognitive science (if also with data science or AI), or related fields.
• Strong communicative and organisational and project management skills: 
  -We have preference for Dutch speaking candidates, given the close collaboration and communication with patients and healthcare staff.
  -You are an effective communicator and collaborator. You can connect easily with researchers, healthcare staff ánd patients.
• Strong algorithmic, programming and statistical skills (Python and R) and ideally also in application development.
• You at least have an interest (and ideally, research or coding experience) in
  -Deep learning techniques, image analysis techniques, statistics; 
  -App development;
  -Affinity or interest in co-design, implementation science, ethical, legal and societal aspects (ELSA), regulatory frameworks, human centered AI, user experience, human factors and/or human-computer interaction (HCI).
• You are an enthusiastic, independent person with a curious mindset. You are willing and eager to work on a multidisciplinary project with different tasks, from qualitative interviews with nurses and statistical analysis on quantitative data, to AI deployment and app development. 

Fixed-term contract: 12 months + 3 years.

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 2025 and 2026, a maximum of 30% of the salary remains untaxed. As per 1 January 2027, this percentage decreases to 27%.
• Accommodation (for foreign employees);
• The opportunity to perform cutting edge research in a large-scale science project involving TiU and the Elisabeth Tweesteden Hospital.
• Support for your personal development and career, and a broad package of fringe benefits (including excellent technical infrastructure, savings schemes and excellent sport facilities).

The collective labor agreement of the Dutch Universities applies.

Tilburg 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.

Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact dr. Elisabeth Huis in ’t Veld (e.m.j.huisintveld@tilburguniversity.edu)

To apply, please submit:

• a motivation letter in which you describe why you want to do this research, and why you are a good fit for the position
• a full curriculum vitae;
• academic transcripts of your Bachelor and (Research) Master’s degrees
• a sample of writing, such as your Master’s thesis or a relevant paper;
• contact details of two academic referees.

The only way to apply is online. The first deadline for application is July 30, 2025. The application interviews are intended to take place around the end of August 2025. The starting date of this position is 1st of October 2025, or soon after. Please let us know if and when you are unavailable (e.g. due to holidays).