Join our research team in studying how people represent their interactions with AI agents. Advances in AI technology increasingly enable us to rely on AI agents to outsource the achievement of goals we set ourselves in everyday life. The PhD project Outsourcing the achievement of goals to external agents addresses this issue from a psychological perspective. We specifically examine how outsourcing basic components underlying human goal-directed behaviour affects the way people value such outsourcing and how it affects their own agency and motivation of behaviour.

The project has two main objectives: (1) advancing a psychological model that offers a systematic insight into how outsourcing affects agency and motivation of behaviour; and (2) testing the impact of such outsourcing to artificial agents in home and work contexts.

We are looking for someone who can conduct research and strengthen our research project. The research is embedded in the research theme Cognition and Social Behavior, which includes the goallab that combines fundamental and applied approaches to study human cognition and motivation in social contexts. Moreover, within our university, our group collaborates with other disciplines within the interdisciplinary strategic themes ‘Institutions for Open Societies’, ‘Dynamics of Youth’ and ‘Focus area Human-Centered AI’.

To allow PhD candidates to gain experience with teaching, the PhD position also includes teaching (minimal 10%, but more is possible on request of the candidate). The teaching is implemented in the Psychology programme offered by the Social, Health & Organisational Psychology group.

Our group is committed to team science and practices Open Science.

The responsibilities will include:

• conducting research (literature research, designing experiments, collecting and analysing data, reporting the results), resulting in international scientific publications and a dissertation;
• presenting results at national and international scientific conferences;
• teaching in the psychology programme (minimal 10%);
• active participation in the research group of the project and of the department;
• collaborating with and visiting international partners in research.

We are looking for someone who:

• holds (or nearly holds) a Master’s degree in Psychology or a related field, preferably with a profile in Social Cognition and Behaviour;
• has a clear interest in how people interact with AI;
• has good experimental and programming skills (e.g., E-Prime, Presentation, Matlab, Phython, R) to design and conduct laboratory research;
• has good methodological and statistical skills;
• is open-minded to apply and translate basic research to issues in society;
• is able to meet deadlines and conduct research independently and as part of a team;
• has good communication skills (written and oral)
• speaks Dutch or is planning to learn Dutch.

You will be offered a temporary position (0.8 - 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, professional development, (partly paid) parental leave, sports 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 strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues.

The faculty strives for diversity among its employees and students and is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, as can be read in Utrecht University's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy.

The faculty attaches great importance to the fact that its employees can be widely deployed in the university organisation, now and in the future, to further professionalise the support of education and research. To encourage this, every employee is given the time and facilities – for example in the form of training – at some point in their career to participate in projects or work in other departments. Characteristics that the faculty considers important are involvement, the ability to collaborate and flexibility.

The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.