Postdoc Position: Explainable AI for Cultural Heritage

This postdoctoral position at Radboud University offers an exciting opportunity to advance research in Explainable AI (XAI) for the cultural heritage sector. As part of the HAICu project, a nationwide Dutch initiative, you will work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital humanities, and cultural heritage, focusing on the collections of the National Library of the Netherlands. The project aims to develop responsible and explainable AI technologies that enhance the accessibility and contextualization of massive multimodal digital heritage collections, including newspapers, books, films, and other historical documents. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will conduct independent research on XAI, organize benchmarks to assess AI technologies (especially for newspapers), and contribute to the supervision of a PhD candidate working on XAI and metadata creation. You will collaborate with the Data Science Group at the Institute for Computing and Information Sciences (iCIS) and the Centre for Language Studies at the Faculty of Arts, engaging with a vibrant, interdisciplinary team of AI researchers, digital humanities scholars, and heritage professionals. The position also involves joint initiatives with project partners to ensure that AI innovations are aligned with the needs of cultural heritage institutions and broader society. The ideal candidate holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Information Science, Language and Speech Technology, or a closely related field, and has extensive experience with AI, including explainable AI. A background in working with cultural heritage collections and a professional network in the sector are highly valued. Strong programming and software engineering skills, experience in organizing academic events, and the ability to supervise PhD candidates are essential. Excellent English communication skills and the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams are required. Radboud University offers a temporary 1-year contract with a gross monthly salary between €3,546 and €5,538 (scale 10, 38-hour week), 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and generous annual leave (30 or 41 days). Additional benefits include flexible working hours, pension plan, sports and cultural discounts, and training and development opportunities. Dual Career Coaching is available for partners seeking employment in the Netherlands. The application deadline is 13 January 2026, with interviews scheduled for 21 or 22 January and a preferred start date of 1 March 2026. Applications must be submitted online, addressed to Prof. Martha Larson. For more information, contact [email protected].