PhD and Postdoc Positions in Human-Centered Explainable Retrieval-Augmented LLMs at University of Copenhagen University of Copenhagen in Denmark

The Natural Language Understanding Research group at the Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, is recruiting for a fully funded PhD and a postdoc position on the interdisciplinary project “Human-Centered Explainable Retrieval-Augmented LLMs.” This project is funded by the Independent Research Foundation Denmark and led by Professor Isabelle Augenstein and Irina Shklovski. The research focuses on explanation steering for human-centric retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and user-centric information needs in AI interactions, combining expertise in Natural Language Processing, Explainable AI, and Human-Computer Interaction.

The PhD position is open to candidates with a Master’s degree or equivalent in Computer Science or a related field, with a strong background in machine learning or NLP. The postdoc position requires a PhD in Computer Science or a relevant discipline, with experience at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction and NLP. Both roles involve collaboration with the CopeNLU group and external partners in information retrieval.

Both positions are fully funded for three years. The PhD student will be supervised by Isabelle Augenstein and co-supervised by Irina Shklovski, while the postdoc will work closely with both supervisors and the broader project team. The University of Copenhagen offers a vibrant research environment, with the NLP section and the Pioneer Centre for Artificial Intelligence providing ample opportunities for academic growth and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The application deadline is 1 February 2026, with an expected start date of 1 September 2026. Interested candidates should apply online via the University of Copenhagen’s application portal. For more information, contact Professor Isabelle Augenstein at [email protected] or visit her academic page.

Keywords: Natural Language Processing, Explainable AI, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, Human-Computer Interaction, Machine Learning, Information Retrieval, Artificial Intelligence.