Postdoc and PhD Positions in AI-Based Adaptive Teaching, Educational Data Science, and Learning Sciences University of Tübingen in Germany

University of Tübingen / Tübingen Center for Digital Education (TüCeDE) is advertising funded research positions in digital education, AI-based adaptive teaching, educational data science, machine learning in education, and learning sciences. The project is supported by a Momentum grant of the VolkswagenStiftung and is embedded in the research group Teaching and Learning with Educational Technology led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Lachner.

The post describes a trans-disciplinary research hub focused on designing evidence-based adaptive learning systems and translating them into school practice. The work connects educational research with AI development and subject-specific didactics, with a strong emphasis on co-design with teachers, students, and school administrators. The environment is international, interdisciplinary, and linked to the LEAD Graduate School & Research Network, the Tübingen School of Education, the Tübingen AI Center, and external partners such as the ELLIS Institute Tübingen and the Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien.

Openings: 2 Postdoc positions (E13 TV-L, 100%, 4 years) and 1 PhD-student / research associate position (E13 TV-L, 75%, 4 years). The postdoc roles focus on either machine learning for generative AI-powered adaptive systems or educational data science and theory-driven analysis of longitudinal and large-scale datasets. The PhD-level position focuses on learning sciences, AI-supported teaching and learning, personalized learning opportunities, and quantitative educational research.

Eligibility highlights: Postdoc applicants should have a relevant PhD and strong methodological expertise in computational modeling, machine learning, or educational data science. The PhD-student position requires an excellent master’s-equivalent degree in educational research or a related field, with interest in quantitative methods, experimental/longitudinal/mixed-methods designs, and meta-analysis. For all roles, strong English, publications, conference activity, analytical ability, and willingness to engage in training are expected.

Funding and conditions: The positions are funded, fixed-term for four years, and remunerated according to E13 TV-L. The post also notes that visa support may be available through the University of Tübingen Welcome Center if needed.

Application window: Apply by 2026-05-08. Submit the usual documents electronically as a single PDF to the email address given in the post. Questions can be directed to Dr. Iris Backfisch or Prof. Andreas Lachner.