Postdoctoral Researcher - Design Thinking for AI (DT4AI)

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26 days remaining

Postdoctoral Researcher - Design Thinking for AI (DT4AI)

Are you interested in combining research, teaching, and real impact on how students learn AI? Apply at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Deadline Published Vacancy ID 5323
Apply now
26 days remaining

Research fields

Educational sciences; Computer science

Job types

Postdoc

Education level

University graduate

Weekly hours

36 hours per week

Salary indication

€3546—€4412 per month

Location

De Boelelaan 1105, 1081HV, Amsterdam

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Job description

We are building a practical, human-centred way for universities to teach AI through design thinking. As our Postdoc, you will lead the Europe-wide piloting and evaluation of this new teaching programme and help embed it in real courses.

What you’ll do (70% project)
  • Run educator pilots: co-design and deliver trial sessions with university teachers; collect feedback from students and staff.
  • Test and improve the toolkit: evaluate lesson plans, cases, and short learning videos; turn findings into actionable improvements.
  • Analyse & report: use mixed methods (surveys, interviews, usability tests) to produce concise, evidence-based reports and practical guidance for lecturers.
  • Share results: organise and contribute to outreach (e.g., KIN Talks, breakfast sessions, short articles, social posts) and maintain clear project documentation.

Your teaching (30%)
  • Teach and co-develop courses in our MSc Digital Business & Innovation and related programmes (topics like AI in business, design thinking, digital innovation).
  • Supervise theses at Bachelor/Master level and contribute to assessment and course improvement.
  • Bring project insights into the classroom, ensuring students learn hands-on, responsible ways to apply AI.

Requirements

  • PhD (or very near completion) in Information Systems or a closely related field.
  • Demonstrated interest in AI + design thinking and human-centred digital innovation in education or organisations.
  • Strong skills in facilitation (running workshops/classes), evaluation (survey design, interviews/focus groups, usability), and synthesis (turning data into practical guidance).
  • Excellent project coordination and communication in multi-partner settings; proactive and organised.
  • Strong academic writing; a publication track record or clear potential.
  • Fluent in English; Dutch is a plus

Conditions of employment

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:
  • a salary of minimum € 3.546,00 (Scale 10) and maximum € 4.412,- (Scale 10) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Researcher 4. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
  • a position for at least 1 FTE. (70% research and 30% teaching) Your employment contract will initially last 1 year.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:
  • A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • solid pension scheme (ABP)
  • contribution to commuting expenses
  • a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

Employer

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

KIN
KIN Center for Digital Innovation (KIN) is one of the departments of the School of Business and Economics at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. KIN researchers study the development, use, and business value of innovative organizational processes and technologies. Our research contributes to an international field that is relatively new and multi-disciplinary. We collaborate closely with faculty and researchers from other universities and cooperate with an extensive network of business partners. The KIN research group is also responsible for several courses and minors in the Business Administration curricula at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and facilitates the MSc Digital Business and Innovation. Researchers at KIN regularly publish and hold editorial positions in leading journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science, or Management Information Systems Quarterly. In recent years, PhD candidates of KIN were hired as assistant professors at leading European business schools (e.g., University of Cambridge, Stockholm School of Economics, Warwick Business School, Rotterdam School of Management, London School of Economics).

School of Business and Economics
We at the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at VU Amsterdam bring together socially relevant teaching and research in the areas of business administration and economics. We focus on real-life issues that have a huge impact on society, economics and ecology: from robotics to big data, and from job market participation to change management.

Collaboration and cooperation, transparency and social responsibility are four keywords that embody our approach. Students, researchers and staff at SBE share real-world knowledge in order to devise solutions together to global economic and social challenges. In order to make a positive impact on the world, society and the lives of others.

Are you interested in joining SBE? You will work in a stimulating, dynamic and international environment with motivated colleagues dedicated to helping society make informed choices. SBE employs roughly 600 staff, with 7,250 students enrolled in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes and 1,700 executive students.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Additional information

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application.

Please submit the following documents as PDF:
  1. a cover letter (max. 2 pages) explaining your fit and motivation;
  2. a CV including publications;
  3. one representative paper (published or working);
  4. a brief teaching statement (max. 1 page) and, if available, teaching evaluations

Submitting a diploma is part of the application process.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Working at VU Amsterdam

Working at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam means contributing to a better world. Working beyond the confidence of your own field, working with an open mind and working for the benefit of society.

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Apply now
26 days remaining