Radboud University is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on AI-enabled decision-making and the experience of empowerment, situated within the Faculty of Social Sciences. This opportunity is part of the large-scale, NWO-funded DECIDE project, which unites 10 Dutch universities and numerous societal partners to develop transparent, citizen-empowering AI systems. The research will explore how AI can empower citizens, particularly in decision-making contexts, and will involve both conceptual and psychometric development using qualitative and quantitative methods. The PhD candidate will join the Behavioural Science Institute (BSI) and the Work, Health and Performance Group, engaging in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research activities, including citizen science and co-design initiatives. The project is supervised by Prof. Wolter Pieters and Dr. Laura Fruhen at Radboud University, Dr. Johannes Steinrücke at the University of Twente, and Prof. Arul Chib at Erasmus University Rotterdam. The research aims to address real-world challenges in domains such as healthcare, mobility, public governance, and healthy lifestyles, contributing to the empowerment and democratic participation of citizens through AI-supported decision-making. Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in Psychology (preferably organisational or social psychology) and demonstrate interest in empowerment, AI transparency, and psychometrics. Both qualitative and quantitative research skills are valued, and candidates should possess strong social and communication skills for stakeholder engagement. Proficiency in Dutch (B2/C1) and English (CEFR C1/C2) is required, or a willingness to achieve these levels. The position includes a light teaching load (10%) and offers opportunities for professional development through training programmes, workshops, and summer schools. The employment contract is for 1.5 years initially, extendable to 4 years upon positive evaluation. The gross monthly salary starts at €3,059 and increases to €3,881 in the fourth year, with additional benefits such as holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, flexible working hours, extra leave days, pension plan, and discounts on sports and cultural activities. The application deadline is 8 March 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the official Radboud University job portal.

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.

This PhD position at Radboud University focuses on AI-enabled decision-making and the experience of empowerment, situated within the Faculty of Social Sciences. The role is part of the DECIDE project, a large-scale, NWO-funded initiative uniting ten Dutch universities and numerous societal partners to develop transparent, citizen-empowering AI systems. The research aims to understand how AI can empower citizens, particularly in decision-making contexts, and to contribute to the design and implementation of next-generation AI that supports democratic participation and societal impact. As a PhD candidate, you will conduct original research on empowerment in the context of AI, including conceptual and psychometric development. The project involves both qualitative and quantitative methods, such as focus groups, measure development, and experimental studies. You will explore questions like what it means to be empowered by AI, how citizens experience empowerment, and which AI attributes support empowerment. The research contributes to democratising AI through transparent decision-making and measurement development. The position offers a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment, with opportunities to collaborate across the DECIDE consortium, participate in training programmes, workshops, and summer schools, and engage in citizen science and co-design initiatives. You will have a light teaching load (10%), allowing you to build your teaching portfolio for the University Teaching Qualification. The role is based in the Work, Health and Performance Group and involves participation in iHub, Radboud University's interdisciplinary research hub on digitalisation and society. Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in Psychology (preferably organisational or social psychology), demonstrate interest in empowerment and AI transparency, and possess emerging competencies in psychometrics. Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods is valued, along with excellent social and communication skills for stakeholder engagement. Proficiency in Dutch (B2/C1) and English (CEFR C1/C2) is required, or willingness to achieve these levels. The position offers a 4-year contract (1.5 years initially, extended by 2.5 years upon positive evaluation), a gross monthly salary of €3,059–€3,881, 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, extra days off, flexible working hours, pension plan, and sports/cultural discounts. Radboud University provides a supportive, inclusive research environment with excellent facilities and strong collaborations. Applications are accepted online via the provided link. Address your letter to Prof. Wolter Pieters and review the application form for required documents. The application deadline is 8 March 2026, with interviews scheduled for 26 March and 14 April. The preferred start date is 16 June 2026.