PhD Position in AI and Data Science for Modelling and Analyzing Reading Text

19 Dec 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Utrecht University

Research Field

Computer science
Educational sciences » Education
Educational sciences » Learning studies

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

19 Jan 2026 - 22:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

40.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Are you passionate about applying AI and Data Science to model and understand real-world challenges? Do you enjoy exploring and formally analyzing aspects of human reading and related cognitive tasks? Join us and contribute to an exciting multidisciplinary research project that strives to create meaningful social impact!
Your job
The digital era has profoundly transformed not only how we read, but also how we learn to read, bringing both new challenges and exciting opportunities. To fully understand these developments, this project explores the processes underlying reading and reading education, and examines how recent advances in artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, are reshaping them.
As a PhD candidate you will contribute to this research project by developing and applying AI and Data Science techniques, with a focus on causal modeling and causal learning, to investigate how children read and are taught to read in the digital age. Using existing datasets, you will analyze and model reading-related data to uncover relevant patterns and structures.
Your tasks will include:

• Reviewing existing research literature across relevant disciplines and identifying suitable AI and Data Science techniques, with a particular focus on causal modeling and causal learning.
• Developing a monitoring system to collect and analyze educational data and to predict the effects of potential educational interventions.
• Investigating the impact of generative AI on both the processes of reading and the methods of reading instruction.

Your primary focus will be to conduct original data-driven research that contributes to this project’s objectives and culminates in a successful doctoral dissertation. You will also contribute to the academic community by publishing and presenting your findings in peer-reviewed international conferences and journals.
You will be a member of the Department of Information and Computing Sciences and the consortium Becoming Literate in a Digital Age. You will collaborate with consortium members from various disciplines, as well as with educational organizations, reading specialists, and other stakeholders.
This position offers excellent opportunities for professional growth through participation in consortium activities, international summer schools and workshops, enabling you to strengthen your research expertise and expand your professional network. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to contribute to teaching and supervise AI-related thesis projects at both Bachelor’s and Master’s levels (approximately 10-15% of your time).

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/jobs/357222/phd-position-in-ai-and-data-sci…

Requirements
Specific Requirements

You combine perseverance with a strong commitment to advancing the research goals of this project, and actively contribute to it with a collaborative mindset. You also have:

• a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field;
• a basic understanding of AI concepts and techniques;
• familiarity with causal modeling, causal learning approaches, and generative AI is highly desirable;
• strong communication skills in English, both spoken and written.

Additional Information
Benefits

• A position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months
• a gross monthly salary between € 3.059 and €3.881 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development , various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities . You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University .

Selection process

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.
To apply, please send the following documents via the ‘apply now’ button:

• your motivation letter;
• your curriculum vitae;
• the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two referees.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.
Some connections are fundamental – Be one of them
#FundamentalConnection

Additional comments

For more information, please contact Mehdi Dastani at m.m.dastani@uu.nl .
Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl .

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/357222/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universiteit Utrecht

Country

Netherlands

City

Utrecht

Postal Code

3584CC

Street

Princetonplein 5

Geofield

Contact

City

Utrecht

Website

http://www.uu.nl/

Street

Domplein 29

Postal Code

3512 JE

STATUS: EXPIRED

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