Doctoral fellow

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.

With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

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YOUR TASKS

Are you interested in artificial intelligence in its broadest sense, and do you want to apply AI techniques to one of the most challenging and socially relevant domains: crime and security? Do you want to work on AI systems that must operate under uncertainty, incomplete information and strategic behaviour?

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a prestigious Consolidator Grant to Prof. dr. Wim Hardyns (Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Ghent University). Within the ERC-funded BIGDATPOL project (www.bigdatpol.com), we are looking for a doctoral researcher with a strong interest in AI-driven analysis, modelling and decision support.

Crime and security constitute a demanding testbed for AI. Data are often heterogeneous, noisy, incomplete or strategically manipulated, while AI systems are expected to support high-stakes decision-making in real-world contexts.

The BIGDATPOL project explores how artificial intelligence techniques can be used to analyse, model and interpret crime-related phenomena across European cities. The project explicitly embraces a broad AI perspective, including (but not limited to):

• machine learning and statistical learning
• computer vision and sensor-based data analysis
• natural language processing and large language models
• hybrid, interpretable and human-centred AI approaches

The focus lies on scientific innovation, interpretability and societal responsibility, rather than on narrow, purely technical optimisation.

As a doctoral researcher, you will:

• Develop and evaluate AI-based models and methods for analysing crime-related data
• Explore AI approaches for risk modelling, pattern recognition and anomaly detection
• Contribute to interpretable and transparent AI solutions for complex decision environments
• Work with diverse data sources, including spatial, temporal, textual and sensor-based data
• Collaborate in an interdisciplinary team and interact with public and institutional partners
• Disseminate research through international publications and conferences

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We welcome applications from candidates (m/f/x) with:

Educational background

• A Master’s degree in artificial intelligence, computer science, data science, statistics, engineering, applied mathematics, economics, sociology, psychology, criminology, safety sciences or a related field
• Final-year Master’s students are eligible

AI expertise

• Experience with or strong interest in AI methods and computational modelling
• Affinity with one or more AI domains such as machine learning, computer vision, NLP, LLMs, explainable AI or hybrid AI
• Willingness to work with real-world, imperfect and socially sensitive data

Research mindset

• Interest in applying AI to crime, security and public decision-making
• Curiosity about the interaction between AI, human expertise and institutional contexts

Personal skills

• Analytical and independent working style, combined with team spirit
• Strong communication skills in English (Dutch is an asset)

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• A fully funded PhD position (6-month initial appointment, followed by a 4-year contract upon positive evaluation)
• Research within a prestigious ERC-funded project with high scientific autonomy
• Strong support for international publications, conferences and advanced training
• A stimulating interdisciplinary environment at the intersection of AI and social sciences
• Competitive salary and employment conditions according to Ghent University scales
• Starting date: from 1 May 2026 (flexible)

INTERESTED?

Please submit your CV, grades for individual courses and motivation letter before 8 March 2026 (23:59 CET) to: bigdatpol@ugent.be

Should you have any questions regarding the position, please do not hesitate to contact us via the same email address.