PhD Position Developing a Human-like Assistant Through Generative AI

AI-based virtual assistance

Job description 

It is foreseeable that in the future, people will be supported by AI in various daily tasks. Virtual assistants or robots could assist people with education, household tasks, and serve as companions, entertainers, or mental coaches.

The current rise of generative AI holds great promise for creating human-like assistants, which may, in some cases, be indistinguishable from real humans. While this brings certain risks (such as deepfakes), it also offers opportunities. The goal of this PhD project is to develop an advanced human-like virtual assistant using generative AI, such as vision/reasoning language models. This virtual assistant should become a globally leading application, which demonstrates the potential of generative AI in education, healthcare, and entertainment.

You will be based in the Cognitive Robotics department and will be part of a project called "Disconnected: Assessing the Effects of Technology on Youth Loneliness". This project is funded by NWO under the Dutch Research Agenda, a program that focuses on key questions established with input from citizens. Our project is aimed at scientific research into loneliness within the target group of 18–26-year-olds. You will work on alongside two other PhD candidates, who focus on the social, cognitive, and neurological aspects of loneliness. 

Job requirements 

Applicants should:

• Have an MSc degree in engineering, computer science, or AI
• Have a profound interest in human-technology interaction.
• Embrace open science principles and modern communication tools.
• Be willing to engage with project partners, and enage in joint research activities.

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 Mechanical Engineering

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

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.  

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof.dr.ir. Joost de Winter, j.c.f.dewinter@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 1 December 2024 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• A knowledge security check will be part of the selection procedure.
  (for details page 45: national knowledge security guidelines)
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.