PhD position Domain Explanation to Citizens’ Decision-Making

Job description

About the DECIDE Project

The DECIDE project is a large-scale, NWO‑funded research initiative under the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). It brings together 10 Dutch universities, over 50 academic researchers, and 30 societal partners in an ambitious inter‑ and transdisciplinary collaboration. Our shared mission is to develop strategies toward the design and implementation of a new generation of transparent, citizen‑empowering AI systems, with a focus on AI‑supported decision‑making that contributes to the empowerment and democratic participation of citizens.

The project addresses real‑world challenges across domains such as healthcare, mobility, public governance, and healthy lifestyles. By co‑developing strategies with societal stakeholders, DECIDE aims to create solutions that have tangible impact on society.

DECIDE is organized into 10 work packages (WPs):

• Six WPs focus on disciplinary perspectives in psychology, education, computer sciences, law, and philosophy.
• Four WPs address citizen‑empowerment scenarios (CES) in healthcare, mobility, public governance, and healthy living.

Each PhD position is embedded in one work package and supervised by a multidisciplinary team of academic and societal experts. Detailed descriptions of the work packages and their interconnections are available on the DECIDE website.

Your research will focus on WP4, dedicated to AI‑based Citizen‑Support Systems. Work will involve developing computational approaches that can explain domains—including domain concepts, properties, relations, and constraints—to support citizens’ decision‑making. We refer to these as domain explanations. The focus includes scientific domains, both stable and unstable, and the domain of AI itself, aiming to empower citizens in the use of such technology.

This work will be developed through the interplay of Semantic Technologies (e.g., ontologies, knowledge graphs) and Artificial Intelligence. Domain explanation requirements will be elicited, and computational approaches will be developed with and for citizens, aligned with DECIDE’s citizen‑empowerment scenarios in public governance and healthy living. Your research will be supervised by a team comprising members from the University of Twente’s Semantics, Cybersecurity and Services, High‑Tech Business and Entrepreneurship (HBE), Technology, Policy and Society (TPS), and the AI‑aided Knowledge Discovery Lab (Disc AI‑lab) at Utrecht University.

As part of your role, you will:

• Conduct original research within Semantic Technologies and Artificial Intelligence, resulting in a PhD thesis.
• Collaborate with other PhD candidates, postdocs, and societal partners across the consortium.
• Participate in DECIDE training programs, workshops, and summer schools, and engage in the Twente Graduate School.
• Gain practical experience in large‑scale open‑source AI software projects, such as ASReview.
• Engage in interdisciplinary activities, including citizen science and co‑design initiatives.

• A Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Philosophy, Logic, or a related field.
• Affinity with Semantic Technologies and Artificial Intelligence.
• Interest in developing computational approaches for domain explanations to support citizens’ decision‑making.
• Strong interest in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research.
• Strong critical thinking and reflection skills.
• Strong ability to collaborate and communicate in multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multi‑stakeholder environment.
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency in English (C1 or C2).
• A good command of Dutch is considered a plus.

• As a PhD candidate at UT, you will be appointed to a full‑time position for four years, with a qualification in the first year, within a stimulating scientific environment.
• The University offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues.
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO‑NU).
• You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from €3,059 (first year) to €3,881 (fourth year).
• Benefits include a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end‑of‑year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme.
• Flexibility to work part‑time from home.
• Minimum of 232 leave hours for full‑time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours, with an additional 96 leave hours for the practical week of 40 hours.
• Free access to sports facilities on campus.
• A family‑friendly institution that offers parental leave (paid and unpaid).
• A training programme as part of the Twente Graduate School, with a plan for suitable education and supervision.
• Encouragement of high responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other staff.