Automated Eating Activity Tracking System for Anorexia Nervosa Using AI and Wearable Sensors KU Leuven in Belgium

KU Leuven is offering a fully funded PhD position on Automated Eating Activity Tracking System for Anorexia Nervosa Using AI and Wearable Sensors. The project is embedded in the EAST-STADIUS Division, specifically within the eMedia Research Lab, and carried out in close collaboration with the Mind-Body Research Group in the Division of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences.

This interdisciplinary PhD sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, wearable sensing, digital health, clinical neuroscience, and psychiatry. The eMedia Research Lab contributes expertise in machine learning, multimodal data analysis, intelligent technologies, and human-centered digital health. The Mind-Body Research Group brings strong clinical and translational experience in eating disorders, longitudinal monitoring, and patient-centered assessment. Together, the groups provide a setting where advanced computational methods can be translated into practical healthcare tools.

The research focus is anorexia nervosa, one of the most severe and persistent mental health disorders. Eating behaviors such as restrictive eating, meal avoidance, rigid patterns, prolonged meal duration, and excessive control over food intake are central to the condition and closely related to illness severity, treatment response, and relapse. Current clinical assessment methods rely heavily on self-report, questionnaires, food diaries, and interviews, which are limited by recall bias and cannot capture eating behavior continuously in daily life.

This project aims to develop an AI-enhanced wearable system for objective, continuous monitoring of eating behavior using wrist-worn IMU sensors. The project will design and validate data acquisition protocols, build robust signal processing and machine learning pipelines, and develop interpretable digital biomarkers that quantify eating rate, temporal regularity, behavioral rigidity, variability, and change over time. The broader goal is to create clinically meaningful tools that can support early identification of deterioration, monitoring of treatment progress, and assessment of recovery trajectories in anorexia nervosa.

As a PhD researcher, you will work on wearable data collection, AI model development, longitudinal behavioral analysis, and clinical interpretation of results. You will collaborate closely with clinicians, psychologists, and researchers in a multidisciplinary environment and disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and outreach activities.

The position is fully funded and full-time. The contract starts on 2 November 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, and is initially for one year with the possibility of renewal up to four years. The salary follows KU Leuven standards. The project also offers access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure, advanced training through the Doctoral School, and opportunities for interdisciplinary and international collaboration.

Eligibility highlights include a Master’s degree in Engineering or a related area such as Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Biomedical Engineering; strong Python programming skills; high academic performance; and a strong interest in psychiatry, neuroscience, and clinical research. Excellent English is required, while Dutch is highly desirable due to participant-based data collection and interaction with clinical partners.

Applications must be submitted via the KU Leuven jobsite before 2026-10-15. For further information, prospective applicants may contact Dr. Chunzhuo Wang or Prof. Bart Vanrumste by email.