PhD in Trustworthy and Adaptive Agentic AI Systems University of Groningen in Netherlands

PhD position in Trustworthy and Adaptive Agentic AI Systems at the University of Groningen

This is a 4-year PhD opening at the Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Netherlands. The project is centered on agentic AI, machine learning, and computer science, with a strong focus on building a deeper theoretical understanding of autonomous AI systems that can perceive, plan, act, and learn continuously in real-world environments.

The research themes include planning and reasoning, safety, and continual learning. You may work on multi-agent coordination, dynamic interaction structures, safe information sharing, action-level safety controls, memory systems, knowledge filtering, and updating knowledge without catastrophic forgetting. The project aims to improve trustworthiness, interpretability, and long-term adaptability of agentic systems, with opportunities for high-impact publications in venues such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, Nature MI, and IEEE TPAMI.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should have a Master’s degree completed or near completion in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related field. Strong Python programming skills, a solid machine learning background, analytical thinking, and very good English are expected. Prior research experience such as a thesis, publications, or a research assistant role is preferred, along with the ability to work independently and in an international team.

Funding and employment: this is a salaried PhD employment position, not a scholarship. The salary is €3,059–€3,881 gross per month for full-time work, with an end-of-year bonus and holiday allowance. The appointment begins with a one-year contract and may be extended for three additional years depending on progress. The role includes a PhD training programme and 10% teaching/supervision duties.

How to apply: submit a motivation letter, CV with referees, and Bachelor’s and Master’s transcripts through the University of Groningen vacancy page. The deadline is 15 May 2026.