PhD in AI and Human-Centered Decision Making at Utrecht University Utrecht University in Netherlands

PhD position in AI and Human-Centered Decision Making at Utrecht University

This PhD project sits at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Human-Centered Computing, and organisational decision-making. The successful candidate will join the Human-Centred Computing group in the Department of Information and Computing Sciences at Utrecht University and work on how algorithmic models represent the world, shape decisions, and interact with human judgement in real settings.

The project explores questions such as how AI-supported decision systems are designed, how they are interpreted and contested in practice, and how they influence what options become visible in organisational contexts. Possible research directions include explainable AI (XAI), theorising with data, spatial representations and embeddings, and the role of algorithmic models in legal, public-sector, or geospatial decision-support applications. The work combines technical modelling with qualitative analysis, making it suitable for candidates interested in both computational and social-scientific approaches.

Eligibility highlights: a recently completed or nearly completed Master's degree in a socio-technical field such as Applied Data Science, Econometrics, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Social Science, or Human Computer Interaction; experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research methods; programming skills in Python or R; strong English proficiency (C1); Dutch is an advantage.

Funding and terms: this is a paid PhD appointment for 18 months initially, with extension to four years after successful assessment. Salary starts at €3,059 per month in year one and increases to €3,881 in year four, plus holiday pay, year-end bonus, pension, and other employment benefits under the Dutch university collective agreement.

Application window: deadline is 5 May 2026. Apply through the Utrecht University vacancy page and submit a motivation letter, CV, degree certificates and grade list, reference contacts, and an expected completion letter if the Master's is not yet finished.