Doctoral Candidate to develop Generative, Explainee-Aware Explainability methods for Eco-Cognition

Antwerp, Belgium

2025-11-12 (Europe/Brussels)

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Within the Faculty of Science, the IDLab research group is looking for a motivated and talented full-time doctoral scholarship holder in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), with a strong emphasis on Explainable AI (XAI). The position is offered within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network on “Generative Explainee-aware Explainability and Transparency in Proactive Cyber-Physical Eco-Environments (GREET).”

Position

GREET pioneers a new generation of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) that are proactive, trustworthy, and fully explainable. The project introduces Generative Learning Cognitive Services (GLCS), intelligent, modular CPS components combining generative eco-cognition, cognition-oriented proactivity learning, and explainee-aware explainability. Using cutting-edge AI, cognitive science, and interaction design, GREET enables systems to understand their environment, anticipate change, act proactively, and clearly explain their reasoning to different users in real time. Applications span smart manufacturing, assistive robotics, energy systems, and networking (IDLab focus). PhD candidates will join an international network of leading universities and companies, working at the forefront of AI, CPS, and human-centred innovation. Within the project:

• You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis in Artificial Intelligence and Cyber-Physical Systems, with a strong emphasis on Explainable AI. This PhD will explore how CPS can explain their eco-cognition, their understanding of the surrounding environment, situations, and intentions, in ways tailored to the needs and context of the explainee (human or machine). The goal is to ensure explanations are accurate, context-aware, and comprehensible, thereby enhancing trust, transparency, and cooperation between CPS agents and their users.
• You will investigate and evaluate the explainability of CPS cognition, focusing on its requirements and typical features from real-life examples (2 months secondment at Hoare Lee LLP and TQC Ltd, UK).
• You will contribute to the development and evaluation of explainability repositories, ensuring they support transparent and user-centred explanations (2 months secondment at Edinburgh Napier University, UK)
• You will collaborate closely with other doctoral researchers in the network, industry partners, and the University of Antwerp’s IDLab team, and gain hands-on experience through secondments at partner organizations.
• You will publish scientific articles related to the research project, and present your work through posters and presentations at (inter)national conferences.
• You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for IDLab and the Faculty of Science.

Profile

• You must be a doctoral candidate, i.e., not having a Doctoral degree at the recruitment date.
• You hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or a closely related field, or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
• You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.
• You can demonstrate excellent study results.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• You can fluently communicate in English (writing, speaking).
• You are an enthusiast of interdisciplinary and collaborative research.

Required Skills and Expertise

• Strong background in AI/ML, preferably with hands-on experience in deep generative models (e.g., VAEs, GANs, diffusion models, transformers).
• Solid programming skills in Python, including familiarity with TensorFlow or PyTorch.
• Interest in explainable AI and contributing to explainability repositories for trustworthy, auditable algorithms.
• Experience or interest in cyber-physical systems (CPS), eco-cognition, and proactive decision-making.
• Good understanding of mathematical optimization techniques for resource allocation and multi-objective trade-offs.
• Background knowledge in mobile and satellite networks, network programmability, and/or NTN architectures is highly appreciated, since these are the target domains where CPS concepts will be applied.
• Willingness to work on interdisciplinary challenges combining AI, optimization, and networked CPS.

What we offer

• Doctoral candidates are offered a competitive remuneration based on the MSCA allowances in line with the MSCA WP 2023-2025. The gross monthly amount at UAntwerp corresponds to the amount for doctoral scholarship holders. Moreover, funding is available for technical and personal skills training and participation in international research events.
• The selected candidate will be employed by the University of Antwerp for 36 months on the MSCA-DN project. In line with UAntwerp regulations and following a positive evaluation by the doctoral committee, UAntwerp may provide additional funding for a maximum of 12 months to complete the doctoral degree.
• The planned start date is February 2026 or as soon as possible after that date.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders.
• You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• You will do most of your work at the Beacon in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 12 November 2025 (by 23:59 Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include the following attachments:
• Motivation letter
• Academic CV, including:
• Transcript of study results
• Two reference letters with appropriate contact details
• English proficiency certificate
• Short research proposal (max. 4 pages, excluding references)
• Propose a topic that integrates the position’s core research (i.e., Generative, Explainee-Aware Explainability for Eco-Cognition) with at least one target domain (cloud-to-edge continuum, cross-domain network orchestration, network optimization, radio resource management/control, terrestrial & non-terrestrial network integration, emergency communication). The research proposal should include: (i) problem statement & motivation, (ii) expected novelty/impact, (iii) brief approach (models, data/testbeds), (iv) evaluation plan, and (v) alignment with IDLab research on flexible and deterministic networking at the University of Antwerp (https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/idlab/research-areas/flexible-deterministic-networking/).

The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the possible next step(s) in the selection procedure.

If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. Steven Latré (steven.latre@uantwerpen.be) and Dr. Miguel Camelo (miguel.camelobotero@uantwerpen.be)

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.