PhD – AI Driven Innovation in Higher Education – Netherlands

Utrecht University is searching for a PhD candidate to explore how adaptive AI can enhance innovative teaching and learning. This interdisciplinary project investigates responsible AI integration in higher education from both teacher and student perspectives.

Duties

This PhD project explores how adaptive AI tools can enhance innovative pedagogies such as Challenge-Based Learning and complex learning environments by fostering higher-order thinking, transdisciplinary collaboration, and active student engagement. The research takes a dual approach, examining the integration of adaptive AI from both teacher and student perspectives to understand how these technologies can support faculty practices and empower students’ learning experiences. It focuses on the responsible and critical integration of AI in educational design, emphasising the development of AI-supported classroom models, faculty practices, and evaluation tools.

The project addresses the urgent need for higher education to adopt AI technologies that support rather than replace human-centred, transdisciplinary, and critical learning approaches. Using mixed methods research and interdisciplinary co-design, the project aims to generate theoretical insights, practical frameworks, and institutional recommendations to guide sustainable AI innovation in university teaching. Your tasks will include:

• designing and conducting empirical studies related to AI-supported teaching innovation;
• writing international publications and a dissertation;
• presenting your research at (inter)national conferences;
• actively contributing to the research community;
• teaching or supervising students (max 10% of your workload).

Requirements

You combine independence and reliability with a creative, proactive mindset and a strong commitment to academic integrity. With excellent interpersonal and project management skills, you work well with others while effectively handling complex workloads and tight deadlines. Your research reflects a dedication to high-quality, responsible, and forward-thinking scholarship that aligns with the university’s values. Additionally, you have:

• a (research) Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as educational science, educational psychology, behavioral science, artificial intelligence, or a related discipline;
• solid methodological and analytical skills, with experience in conducting qualitative and/or mixed methods research;
• affinity with or a strong interest in AI in education, learning design, and innovative pedagogies such as Challenge-Based Learning;
• excellent academic writing and communication skills in English. Knowledge of Dutch is not required but may be considered an asset.

Benefits

• A PhD position for 1 year, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment;
• a working week of 36-40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 2,901 and €3,707 (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

Organization/Company – Utrecht University.

Research field – Educational sciences » Education.

Research profile – First Stage Researcher (R1).

Country –Netherlands.

Application Deadline – 24 Aug 2025 – 21:59 (UTC).

More information: Euraxess.