PhD in AI-enabled Decision-making and Empowerment

About the Role

This PhD position focuses on understanding how AI can empower citizens. You will conduct original research on AI-enabled decision-making, tackling questions on what empowerment by AI means and how transparent AI systems can contribute to citizen empowerment. The position is part of the large-scale DECIDE project supported by NWO under the Dutch Research Agenda.

Project and Environment

The DECIDE project brings together 10 Dutch universities, over 50 academic researchers, and 30 societal partners. Research spans healthcare, mobility, public governance, and more. You will be integrated in a dynamic, inter- and transdisciplinary community at Radboud University and collaborate with multiple research groups including the Work, Health and Performance Group and iHub.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on AI empowerment.
• Develop conceptual frameworks and psychometric scales.
• Engage with societal stakeholders through co-design and citizen science.
• Contribute to teaching with a light (10%) load.
• Participate in training programmes, workshops, and interdisciplinary activities.

Profile

You should have a Master’s degree in Psychology (organisation or social psychology emphasis). Emerging skills in psychometrics and a passion for both research methods (qualitative and quantitative) are required. Strong communication skills and fluency in Dutch (B2/C1) or willingness to progress, alongside high English proficiency (C1/C2), are essential.

We Offer

• Temporary contract of 1.5 years with extension to a 4-year contract.
• Starting salary of €3,059 gross per month, increasing to €3,881 in the fourth year.
• Holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, extra days off and flexible working arrangements.
• Opportunities for personal development, teaching portfolio enhancements, and networking.

Supervision and Collaboration

The project is supervised by Prof. Wolter Pieters and Dr. Laura Fruhen at Radboud University, with additional supervision from partners at the University of Twente and Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Key skills/competency

• AI Empowerment
• Decision-making
• Social Psychology
• Organisational Psychology
• Research Methods
• Qualitative Analysis
• Quantitative Analysis
• Psychometrics
• Interdisciplinary
• Stakeholder Engagement