Guido Camps

This PhD project explores how food properties shape children’s eating behaviour and energy intake , bringing together nutrition, sensory science and innovative digital tools. The student will join the Child Eating Behaviour team at Wageningen University & Research and work within the chair group Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour in the Division of Human Nutrition and Health . The research programme combines literature review, experimental design and data analysis to understand factors that influence children’s eating behaviours and dietary patterns. A key part of the work is to study how specific food properties may moderate eating behaviour and energy intake in children, using digital tools to track eating behaviour. The project also includes publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at international conferences, and turning evidence into practical recommendations for improving the food environment for children in the Netherlands. The position is embedded in an international and interdisciplinary research environment on the Wageningen campus. The group is led by Prof. Ciarán Forde , with Associate Prof. Guido Camps as co-supervisor. The student will also contribute to the supervision of MSc thesis projects related to this topic. The project is based at Wageningen University & Research, an institution focused on healthy food and living environment, with a strong emphasis on collaboration across disciplines.

PhD position in Explainable AI for Better Dietary Choices at Wageningen University & Research This PhD opening is part of the DECIDE project, a large-scale, NWO-funded initiative focused on making AI systems transparent, interpretable, and aligned with human needs and values. The project sits at the intersection of computer science , artificial intelligence , nutrition , human-AI interaction , and behavioural research . The successful candidate will work on developing a transparent recommendation or reasoning system for nutrition intake, combining machine learning with explainable AI , knowledge graphs , symbolic reasoning , and dialogue-based explanations . The research includes designing user-facing explanation interfaces, studying how explanations affect trust and behaviour, and evaluating the system using both technical and human-centred methods. The position is based at Wageningen University & Research in the Hungry Robots Lab , within the Division of Human Nutrition, and involves collaboration with Utrecht University , the Dutch Nutrition Center (Voedingscentrum) , and a wider network of universities and societal partners. The project aims to support responsible and ethical AI for healthier lifestyle choices and citizen-empowering technology. Eligibility highlights: applicants should hold a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, Computational Cognitive Science, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related technical field. Experience with machine learning is required; experience with explainable AI, recommender systems, knowledge graphs, conversational AI, behavioural modelling, user studies, or experimental design is a plus. Strong English at C1 level is expected. Funding: fully funded 4-year PhD position with a salary of €3,059/month in year 1 rising to €3,881/month in year 4, plus an 8.3% year-end bonus and pension scheme. Application window: apply by 30 April 2026 . Submit a CV and motivation letter (maximum 3 pages total) and complete the mandatory online form. Applications must be submitted through the WUR vacancy page.