Postdoc Specialist, Validation of AI in Healthcare

About the Role: Your Responsibilities
As the Specialist focused on the technical validation side of the framework, you will be a key driver of the project's success. Your work will be dynamic and multifaceted, involving:
- Framework Development: Co-leading the iterative design of the validation framework, synthesizing input from literature reviews, expert workshops, and multi-round Delphi studies, and clinical validations of the framework.
- Technical Validation Design: Taking the lead on defining the technical components of the framework. This includes establishing practical methods for healthcare teams to measure AI performance and safety.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Working closely with a diverse group of stakeholders, including clinicians (GPs, hospital specialists), IT staff, patient representatives, and technology vendors to ensure the framework is both rigorous and realistic for frontline use.
- Research & Analysis: Actively participating in mixed-methods research, including conducting interviews and analyzing data to validate the framework's usability and effectiveness.
- Knowledge Translation: Translating complex research findings into clear, actionable guidelines, reports, and publications for a broad audience.

This is not a standard role, and we are looking for a unique individual who thrives at the intersection of different fields. Pragmatic thinking is essential. You must be able to move beyond theory to create tools that work in the real world for busy professionals.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:
- A Master's degree or PhD in a relevant field.
- Demonstrable expertise in at least one of the following three domains:
1. Artificial Intelligence / Data Science: A strong understanding of machine learning principles, particularly NLP/LLMs. You can critically assess concepts like model performance, fairness metrics, and the nature of "hallucinations."
2. Healthcare / Clinical Research: Experience working within or closely with the healthcare sector. You understand clinical workflows, the challenges faced by clinicians, and the principles of conducting research in a healthcare setting.
3. Policy, Ethics, or Governance: Knowledge of the ethical and regulatory landscape surrounding AI and healthcare, including principles of responsible AI, data privacy (GDPR), and governance.
- Ability to think pragmatically and develop practical, user-centric solutions.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.

- A central role in a high-impact project with national visibility, referenced by the government, that will directly influence Dutch healthcare policy and practice.
- Unparalleled access to a network of leading academic hospitals, frontline care providers (GPs, VVT), and innovators in the field of AI in healthcare.
- A dynamic and collaborative research environment with significant autonomy.
- A competitive salary and benefits package in line with UMC CAO standards. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

Contact Information
For questions regarding this position, you may contact Mr. J. Doornberg or Mr. R. Fischer.
You can reach Mr. R. Fischer directly via email at r.fischer@umcg.nl.
For telephone inquiries, please contact the secretariat of the department using the phone number listed in the contact section at the bottom of this vacancy.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV outlining their motivation and how their profile aligns with this role. Please highlight your expertise in at least two of the three key domains and provide an example of a project where you applied pragmatic thinking to solve a complex problem.

Are you passionate about bridging the gap between cutting-edge artificial intelligence and safe, effective clinical practice? Do you have a pragmatic mindset and the ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical solutions for frontline healthcare?

The RIGH:T (Responsible Implementation of Generative AI in Healthcare: together) consortium is seeking a highly motivated Specialist for a central role in a nationally significant research project. This isn't just an academic exercise, it's a high-impact initiative with significant policy implications. As a testament to its national importance, the RIGH:T consortium was recently highlighted by the Minister of Health in a formal letter to the cabinet.

As a full-time researcher, you will play a hands-on role in developing and validating the first national framework for evaluating ambient listening technology in the Netherlands. You will be instrumental in creating the standard that ensures AI is adopted responsibly to support clinicians and improve patient care across the country.