PhD Position: Generative, Explainee-Aware Explainability Methods for Proactivity Learning in Cyber-Physical Systems University of Antwerp in Belgium

The University of Antwerp is seeking a highly motivated doctoral candidate to join the IDLab research group within the Faculty of Science, focusing on Generative, Explainee-Aware Explainability methods for Proactivity Learning in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). This position is part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network project GREET, which aims to pioneer a new generation of proactive, trustworthy, and fully explainable CPS. The research will center on developing Generative Learning Cognitive Services (GLCS) that combine eco-cognition, proactivity learning, and explainee-aware explainability, enabling systems to anticipate changes, act proactively, and explain their reasoning to diverse users in real time. Applications span smart manufacturing, assistive robotics, energy systems, and advanced networking, with a particular focus on flexible and deterministic networking. The successful candidate will actively prepare and defend a PhD thesis in Artificial Intelligence and CPS, investigating how CPS can transparently explain their proactive decision-making and reasoning in context-sensitive ways. The project includes two secondments: three months at TQC Ltd (UK) and four months at IRIS Technology (Spain), providing hands-on experience and exposure to real-world applications. Collaboration with other doctoral researchers, industry partners, and the IDLab team is integral, and candidates will present their work at international conferences and contribute to teaching and research support tasks. Applicants must hold (or soon obtain) a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or a closely related field, and must not have resided or worked in Belgium for more than 12 months in the past 36 months. Required skills include a strong background in AI/ML (especially explainable AI), experience or interest in HCI, user interface design, data visualization, programming (Python, JavaScript, web frameworks), and familiarity with explainable ML frameworks. English proficiency is mandatory. The position offers competitive MSCA-based remuneration, allowances for training and commuting, and a dynamic, international research environment. The contract is for 36 months, with a possible 12-month extension. The application deadline is 12 November 2025. Applicants should submit a motivation letter, academic CV, transcripts, two reference letters, English proficiency certificate, and a short research proposal integrating the project’s core research with a target domain. For further information, contact Prof. Steven Latré or Dr. Miguel Camelo Botero.