Ralf Vandam

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is offering a full-time postdoctoral position in Archaeology and AI within the ARCHAI project, an interdisciplinary initiative that brings together the AMGC team (Archaeology, Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry) and the FLAIR research group (Federated Labs AI and Robotics). The project examines how artificial intelligence can support archaeological prospection by treating site discovery as a sequential decision-making problem. It combines archaeological knowledge, geospatial and landscape data, and machine learning methods to develop a simulation environment and reinforcement-learning-based strategies for identifying promising survey locations. The research aims to create transparent, robust, and interpretable tools that balance scientific yield and cost-effectiveness, with planned testing in real field settings such as Turkey, Cyprus, and Flanders. The postdoctoral researcher will co-coordinate the project and work closely with the VUB team, including Prof. dr. Ralf Vandam and Prof. dr. Pieter Libin . Responsibilities include contributing to the development of a simulator of archaeological search processes, advancing machine learning methods for predictive modelling and site discovery, writing follow-up grant applications, participating in AMGC and FLAIR activities, supporting thesis supervision, publishing research in journals and conferences, and presenting results to academic, policy, and public audiences. Applicants should hold a PhD in archaeology, computer science/AI, or a related discipline . Experience with computing is expected, preferably with machine learning. The position particularly welcomes researchers who can bridge archaeology and AI, including candidates from an archaeological background eager to develop AI/ML skills, or vice versa. Strong data management, database, and GIS/spatial analysis skills are important, along with a strong scientific track record, grant-writing experience, team spirit, communication skills, and excellent English. The appointment is based at VUB’s Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus in Elsene/Brussels. VUB describes the project as fully funded and offers a postdoctoral scholarship for 12 months , extendable up to 36 months subject to positive evaluation. The start date is planned for 2027-01-01 . The post includes a grant linked to government scales, together with standard VUB employment benefits and flexible working arrangements. The application deadline is 2026-09-14 . Applicants should submit their CV (including two referees), a motivation letter of up to two pages, and a diploma where applicable via jobs.vub.be . Questions about the position can be directed to [email protected] .

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is offering a full-time postdoctoral position linked to the ARCHAI project, an interdisciplinary collaboration between the AMGC research team and the FLAIR research group. The project sits at the intersection of archaeology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and geospatial analysis. It focuses on archaeological prospection, where sparse and uncertain data make it difficult to decide where to survey next. ARCHAI addresses this challenge by treating archaeological search as a sequential decision-making problem and by developing a simulation platform together with deep multi-objective reinforcement learning methods. The goal is to create interpretable and efficient discovery strategies that balance scientific yield and cost effectiveness, and to test whether simulation-trained policies transfer to real field settings such as Turkey, Cyprus, and Flanders. The successful candidate will coordinate collaboration between the archaeology and AI teams, contribute to the simulator and machine learning methods, help build systems that combine maps, satellite imagery, and archaeological datasets, and support grant writing for future expansion of the research line. The post also involves active participation in AMGC and FLAIR meetings, supervision support for MSc and BSc theses, publication of results in journals and computer science conferences, and presentation and outreach to both academic and public audiences. The role is based at VUB’s Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus in Elsene. The position is funded as a postdoctoral scholarship for 12 months, with the possibility of extension up to 36 months subject to positive evaluation. The planned start date is 01/01/2027. The funding is described as a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government. Applicants must hold a PhD in archaeology, computer science/AI, or a related field. Experience with computing and preferably machine learning is expected, though candidates from archaeology with a strong interest in AI/ML, or from computer science with an interest in archaeology, are both encouraged. Additional requirements include a strong research track record, experience with grant proposals, excellent digital data management and GIS skills, strong teamwork and communication abilities, and high proficiency in English. A mobility condition applies: applicants must have spent at least 12 months abroad in the three years before the start date, without working or studying in Belgium during that period. The application deadline is 14/09/2026. Applicants should apply via the VUB jobs portal and submit a CV including the contact details of two referees, a motivation letter of up to two pages, and a diploma if applicable. Questions about the position can be directed to Prof. dr. Ralf Vandam at [email protected].