PhD Position IDEE: Teaching and Learning in the Age of AI

PhD Position IDEE: Teaching and Learning in the Age of AI

Are you passionate about the future of education and the role of AI in transforming learning environments? Join us as PhD candidate to study teaching and learning strategies in the age of AI.

Job Description

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is looking for a PhD candidate for the project “Teaching and Learning in the Age of AI” within the Innovation for Delft Engineering Education (IDEE) initiative. This project focuses on how we, as a university, can respond to the rise of AI in the learning process. What does AI mean for the way we teach and learn? How can meaningful learning be redefined in today’s AI-enabled educational landscape?

The project aims to (1) develop a theoretical framework of constructive alignment for AI-rich teaching environments; (2) identify which patterns of student-AI interactions lead to deep/surface learning; (3) create, implement and evaluate guidelines and knowledgebase for teachers to design and integrate AI in their courses; and (4) create an engaged community around teaching and learning in the age of AI.

The PhD candidate will work together with this new cross-faculty education innovation research team. They will work collaboratively with two post-docs, an educational development specialist, student assistants and will be supervised by Gosia Migut, Derek Lomas, and Willem-Paul Brinkman.

As a PhD candidate, you will investigate patterns of student-AI interactions across various learning contexts, with a particular focus on how these interactions influence deep and surface learning approaches. You will analyse how students engage with AI tools — whether to meaningfully understand and apply knowledge (deep learning) or to complete tasks with minimal cognitive effort (surface learning). Building on these insights, you will develop and evaluate design interventions aimed at promoting deeper, more engaged learning processes and improving overall learning outcomes.

Job requirements

We are looking for a motivated candidate who:

• Has obtained a MSc. degree, either in one of the related social sciences such as Educational Studies, with a strong interest in AI, engineering and engineering education, or an engineering/AI background with a strong interest in educational studies and education.
• Has experience with empirical research (both quantitative and qualitative)- and demonstrate social curiosity, systems thinking and people skills.
• Has genuine curiosity about educational innovations in engineering and are committed to action research in a variety of educational practices and systems.
• Has an open, self-motivated and collaborative mindset capable of handling the ambiguities, inconsistencies, and uncertainties that come when interacting with multiple stakeholders in engineering education with different interests and values.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information

The chosen candidate will work as a member of the Initiative on Innovation in Delft Engineering Education (IDEE) (www.tudelft.nl/idee).  IDEE is a cross-faculty program for innovations and research in engineering education for degree programs at TU Delft. This PhD project is one of the research projects within IDEE at TU Delft and the candidate will work in close vicinity of the other IDEE PhD candidates and PDs, supported by Scientific Experts and the TU Delft Teaching Academy. The Teaching Academy is the network for and by lecturers of TU Delft with the mission to collaboratively enhance engineering education and drive education innovations across faculty boundaries. Learn more about the Teaching Academy via https://www.tudelft.nl/teachingacademy. 

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Gosia Migut, via m.a.migut@tudelft.nl.