About the DECIDE Project
The DECIDE project is a large-scale, NWO-funded research initiative under the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). It brings together 10 Dutch universities, over 50 academic researchers, and 30 societal partners in an ambitious inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration. Our shared mission is to develop strategies towards the design and implement a new generation of transparent, citizen-empowering AI systems, with a focus on AI-supported decision-making that contribute to the empowerment and democratic participation of citizens.
The project addresses real-world challenges across domains such as healthcare, mobility, public governance, and healthy lifestyles. By co-developing strategies with societal stakeholders, DECIDE aims to create solutions that have tangible impact on society.
Your Role as a PhD student
As a PhD candidate, you will be part of a multidisciplinary team of PhD students and become part of a vibrant inter- and transdisciplinary research community. You will:
- Collaborating across disciplines and with societal stakeholders to achieve real-world impact.
- Participate in joint training programs on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research methods, citizen engagement, and ethical AI.
- Contribute to cutting-edge research that bridges theory and practice.
Project structure
DECIDE is organized into 10 work packages (WPs):
- Six WPs focus on disciplinary perspectives in psychology, education, computer sciences, law, and philosophy.
- Four WPs address citizen-empowerment-scenarios (CES) in healthcare, mobility, public governance, and healthy living.
Each PhD position is embedded in one work package and supervised by a multidisciplinary team of academic and societal experts. Detailed descriptions of the work packages and their interconnections are available on the DECIDE website.
We are looking for an excellent and enthusiastic PhD researcher to join the DECIDE project at the University of Twente. Your research will focus on the work package that is dedicated to Education. In your project, you will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of teachers to design, implement, and evaluate an educational program that fosters a new type of AI literacy in university students. The instructional approach that will be used is Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) in which multi-disciplinary teams of students learn by conducting research and design projects on a societal problem in collaboration with stakeholders.
Your educational design research will be supervised by the section of Instructional Technology (IST), while the design and implementation of the educational program will be supervised by the Philosophy section of the BMS faculty. Additionally, you will be part of the multi-disciplinary team of participants in this work package.
In this project, you will participate in a Professional Learning Community of teachers and educational specialists from Universities of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool Saxion, Hogeschool van Amsterdam), Vocational Education (ROC van Twente, ROC van Amsterdam) and Kohnstamm Institute, who aim at mutual exchange of experiences and instructional materials targeting the design of educational programs on AI literacy in different professional settings.
As part of your role, you will:
- Conduct original design-based research within the field of education, resulting in a PhD thesis.
- Collaborate with other PhD candidates, postdocs, and societal partners across the consortium, including participation in the Professional Learning Community.
- Participate in DECIDE training programs, workshops, and summer schools, and participate in the Twente Graduate School.
- Gain practical experience in large-scale open-source AI software projects, such as ASReview.
- Engage in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary activities, including citizen science and co-design initiatives.
Information and application
Additional information regarding the position can be obtained from Prof. Dr. Mieke Boon (m.boon@utwente.nl) or Prof. Dr. Tessa Eysink (t.h.s.eysink@utwente.nl). Please submit your application online by filling in the form (choose ‘apply now’), no later than March 6, 2026.
Please submit:
- A motivation letter explaining your interest, motivation, and fit for this position;
- A curriculum vitae.
Screening is part of the application process.
About the department
The section of Instructional Technology (IST) is part of the department of Learning, Data analytics and Technology (LDT) within the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social sciences (BMS) of the University of Twente (UT). Research at IST is situated at the intersection of educational psychology, instructional design, and educational technology. More information about IST is available on the website
About the organisation
At the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS), we unite the worlds of people and technology to address today’s complex societal challenges. We are passionate about understanding human behaviour, fostering responsible innovation, and designing solutions that create societal value. Our educational programmes span disciplines such as Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences, and Health Sciences. Through our bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Professional Learning & Development programmes, and interdisciplinary research themes – including Emerging Technologies & Societal Transformations, Resilience, Smart Industry, Learning, and Health – we empower students and researchers to make a positive societal impact.
At BMS, we combine critical thinking with practical action. From advancing sustainable mobility with innovations like the world’s most efficient hydrogen car to shaping policies that promote digital inclusion, our work contributes to a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable future. Whether it’s exploring how technology influences human behaviour or leveraging data and innovation to transform industries and communities, we ensure that technology serves people – and not the other way around.
As an employer, BMS offers a vibrant, inclusive, and entrepreneurial environment where you can thrive personally and professionally. Join us and become part of a forward-thinking community that equips you to shape the future – for yourself and society. With us, you will become part of a leading technical university with increasing, positive social impact.
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