Radboud University’s Faculty of Social Sciences in the Netherlands is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on AI-enabled decision-making and the experience of empowerment. The position is part of the Behavioural Science Institute and the Work, Health and Performance Group, and is embedded in the large-scale, NWO-funded DECIDE project, which brings together 10 Dutch universities and numerous societal partners to develop transparent, citizen-empowering AI systems. The research will explore how AI can empower citizens in decision-making contexts, with a strong emphasis on both qualitative and quantitative methods, including focus groups, scale development, and experiments.

The PhD candidate will investigate the conceptual and psychometric development of AI empowerment measures, collaborate with societal partners and researchers, and contribute to the project’s goal of democratising AI through transparent decision-making. The role includes a light teaching load (about 10%) to support the candidate’s University Teaching Qualification. The research environment is vibrant and interdisciplinary, with opportunities for training, workshops, and participation in citizen science and co-design initiatives.

Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Psychology (preferably organisational or social psychology), an interest in AI empowerment, and emerging skills in psychometrics. Strong collaboration, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills are essential, as is a passion for research with societal impact. Proficiency in Dutch (B2/C1) and English (C1/C2) is required, or candidates should be actively working toward these levels.

The position offers a full-time contract (1.0 FTE) for 1.5 years, extendable to 4 years upon positive evaluation. The salary ranges from €3,059 to €3,881 gross per month, with an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus. Additional benefits include 30–41 days of annual leave, a 34% discount on sports and cultural activities, a pension plan, and flexible work-life arrangements. The research will be supervised by Prof. Wolter Pieters (PhD supervisor) and Dr. Laura Fruhen (daily supervisor) at Radboud University, with additional supervision from Dr. Johannes Steinrücke (University of Twente) and Prof. Arul Chib (Erasmus University Rotterdam).

To apply, candidates should submit their application via the Radboud University portal before 8 March 2026. For more information, applicants can consult the official job posting or contact the supervisors. This opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in the intersection of psychology, AI, and societal impact, and who are eager to contribute to innovative, interdisciplinary research in a supportive academic environment.