PhD Position in AI and Data Science for Modelling and Analyzing Reading Text

Are you passionate about applying AI and Data Science to model and understand real-world challenges? Do you enjoy exploring and formally analyzing aspects of human reading and related cognitive tasks? Join us and contribute to an exciting multidisciplinary research project that strives to create meaningful social impact!

Your job
The digital era has profoundly transformed not only how we read, but also how we learn to read, bringing both new challenges and exciting opportunities. To fully understand these developments, this project explores the processes underlying reading and reading education, and examines how recent advances in artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, are reshaping them.

As a PhD candidate you will contribute to this research project by developing and applying AI and Data Science techniques, with a focus on causal modeling and causal learning, to investigate how children read and are taught to read in the digital age. Using existing datasets, you will analyze and model reading-related data to uncover relevant patterns and structures.

Your tasks will include:

• Reviewing existing research literature across relevant disciplines and identifying suitable AI and Data Science techniques, with a particular focus on causal modeling and causal learning.
• Developing a monitoring system to collect and analyze educational data and to predict the effects of potential educational interventions.
• Investigating the impact of generative AI on both the processes of reading and the methods of reading instruction.

Your primary focus will be to conduct original data-driven research that contributes to this project’s objectives and culminates in a successful doctoral dissertation. You will also contribute to the academic community by publishing and presenting your findings in peer-reviewed international conferences and journals.

You will be a member of the Department of Information and Computing Sciences and the consortium Becoming Literate in a Digital Age. You will collaborate with consortium members from various disciplines, as well as with educational organizations, reading specialists, and other stakeholders.

This position offers excellent opportunities for professional growth through participation in consortium activities, international summer schools and workshops, enabling you to strengthen your research expertise and expand your professional network. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to contribute to teaching and supervise AI-related thesis projects at both Bachelor’s and Master’s levels (approximately 10-15% of your time).

You combine perseverance with a strong commitment to advancing the research goals of this project, and actively contribute to it with a collaborative mindset. You also have:

• a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field;
• a basic understanding of AI concepts and techniques;
• familiarity with causal modeling, causal learning approaches, and generative AI is highly desirable;
• strong communication skills in English, both spoken and written.

• A position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months
• a gross monthly salary between € 3.059 and €3.881 in the case of full-time employment (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 also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. 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.

Working at the Faculty of Science means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn and discover how you can become part of our community.

The Department of Information and Computing Sciences (ICS) is nationally and internationally renowned for its fundamental and applied research in computer science and information science. In our constantly changing (digital) society, we are continually looking for new, realistic ways to push the boundaries of both science and societal application. We contribute to innovative information technologies through the development and application of new concepts, theories, algorithms, and software methods. With our expertise, we nourish a wide range of interdisciplinary and societal collaboration initiatives. Our Department provides a dynamic work environment. Our approach is characterized by a connected, open, and can-do spirit that stimulates personal initiative and curiosity. You will be encouraged to take ownership and create value while sharing your knowledge both internally and across the wider (global) community. Every day we aim to live up to this mission because we believe it is the only way to make the breakthroughs that will help solve the challenges facing the world.

As a PhD candidate, you will be based within the Intelligent Systems group at Utrecht University. Your supervision team will include Prof. Mehdi Dastani (promotor). The Intelligent Systems research group focuses on both fundamental and applied research in Artificial Intelligence.