"PhD on AI as a Social Agent to Support Group Learning Processes"

Job Description

Are you passionate about using AI to understand and support group learning processes in Challenge-Based Learning environments? Eindhoven University of Technology invites applications for a PhD position within the recently NRO-funded research project AI as a Social Agent to Support Group Learning Processes. This interdisciplinary project explores how AI, specifically large language model (LLM)-based chatbots, can act as adaptive social agents to support students’ collaborative learning in Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) environments.

The PhD position is part of a larger NRO-funded initiative that brings together experts from TU/e, the University of Twente, and Maastricht University. The project combines educational sciences, artificial intelligence, and innovation studies. Within this consortium, a PhD student and a postdoctoral researcher will work closely together to address both the educational and technical challenges of using AI to enhance socially shared regulation of learning (SSRL).

This PhD project will focus on identifying socio-cognitive and socio-emotional triggers in student collaboration, designing scaffolding strategies to address them, and investigating students’ perceptions of AI as a learning partner during teamwork. The findings will directly inform the development of adaptive AI tools led by the postdoctoral researcher.

A central question that guides this PhD research is: How can an AI social agent be theoretically designed and effectively implemented in a CBL context to support collaborative tasks?

As a PhD student you will:

• Conduct literature reviews on metacognitive and emotional regulation in collaborative learning, with emphasis on how regulation unfolds in both team interactions and human–AI collaboration.
• Identify and categorize socio-cognitive and socio-emotional triggers in CBL contexts, to inform the design of responsive AI-based scaffolds.
• Design and evaluate scaffolding strategies in close collaboration with a postdoctoral researcher, ensuring the AI social agent is co-developed and empirically grounded.
• Collect and analyze multimodal data (e.g., video, audio, interaction logs) from student group collaborations and interactions with the AI social agent.
• Conduct classroom studies to implement and evaluate AI-supported interventions.
• Disseminate findings through journal articles, conferences, workshops, and practice-oriented outputs.

Requirements

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with: A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Educational Sciences, Learning Sciences, Educational Psychology, or a closely related discipline. Strong interest in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of education and AI. Proven affinity with artificial intelligence in education (e.g., prior coursework, research projects, or collaborations). A track record in this area (e.g., thesis, publications, or practical applications) will be considered a strong plus. Experience with (or willingness to learn) mixed-method research, including qualitative and quantitative approaches. Affinity with collaborative learning, educational innovation, or technology-enhanced learning. Strong communication and academic writing skills in English. Ability to work independently as well as in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research team.

Conditions of Employment

Fixed-term contract: 54 months. A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you: Full-time employment for 4.5 years (54 months), with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment. Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €3,059 max. €3,881). A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%. High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process. An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities. An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs. A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.