Postdoctoral Researcher in AI for Understanding Visual Narratives

Job description
Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Center of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence at Tilburg University (TiU) is looking for an enthusiastic new colleague in the domains of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The postdoc will contribute to the research project “Advancing Research in Palliative Care: Employing Rich Pictures”, a collaboration between Tilburg University, Amsterdam UMC and Amsta Nursing Home. In this project, you will collaborate with prof. dr. Hanneke van Laarhoven, head of the Department of Medical Oncology at Amsterdam UMC and her team.
Little is known about the existential concerns of patients in the palliative phase of life. Discussing one's life in this phase can be difficult for patients. Visual aids, like 'Rich Pictures' (RPs), can facilitate this and bring to light concerns that might not otherwise be discussed. RPs can also illustrate changes over time, for instance, after an intervention. Thus, they can also serve as a new research instrument. However, RP analysis is highly labor-intensive and challenging due to the variability in drawing styles, the numerous elements and their complex relationships, and the implicit meanings of specific symbols. By accelerating RP analysis with AI, RPs can also be used as a measurement tool in large-scale research and clinical practice.
Your position
The postdoc will play a key role in the research team. The key responsibilities include:
Extend, develop, and refine AI methods and tools to support the analysis and interpretation of Rich Pictures (RPs).
Adapt and improve a user-friendly interface that makes the AI tools accessible to researchers and healthcare professionals.
Collaborate closely with humanities researchers and healthcare professionals at Amsterdam UMC and other project partners.
Publish research findings in scientific journals and present results at national and international conferences.

Requirements
We understand that no candidate will meet every single requirement. If you are excited about this position but do not tick every box, we still encourage you to apply. In your application, tell us not only about the qualifications you bring but also about the areas you are eager to develop further and how you envision doing so. We welcome applications from candidates of all genders, ethnicities, backgrounds, and orientations.
Your profile
The successful candidate should:
Hold a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science, Digital Humanities, Computer Science, or another relevant discipline.
Have an interest in and experience with deep learning, computer vision, image analysis, and/or multimodal AI.
Possess strong programming skills in Python and experience with relevant AI technologies, such as PyTorch and vision-language models (VLMs), as well as web development frameworks, such as Flask or Django.
Have an interest in applying AI to human-centered research, healthcare, or other socially relevant domains.
Be interested in working across disciplines, particularly at the intersection of AI, humanities, and healthcare.
Have a good command of English, both spoken and written.

Conditions of employment
Our offer
Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:
Employment of 0.8 – 0.,9 fte (32-36 hours per week).
Salary between €3,546 and €4,728 gross per month for full-time employment (UFO-profile researcher 4, salary scale 10). Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
Hybrid working with home working allowance (€2 p/day) and internet allowance (€25 p/month).
Reimbursement sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
Options model for additional leave, pension, a bicycle or personal training.
Moving allowance (subject to conditions).
30% rule for international employees (if applicable).
Pension through ABP.
Ample training offer: personal development, leadership, education, research or language courses.
Inclusive work culture: everyone welcome, equal opportunities.
A green, inviting campus that’s easily accessible by public transport.
For more information, please see our
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CLA Dutch Universities.

Employer
Tilburg University
Tilburg University is the university in the humanities and social sciences. Ever since our foundation in 1927, we have been committed to a just, inclusive, and sustainable society. With leading research and inspiring education, we contribute to the interpretation and, where possible, solutions to current societal issues, from climate change to digitalization
Our community is personal, engaged, and small-scale. On our green, compact, and vibrant campus there is room for encounter, collaboration, reflection, and personal growth. Read more about
Tilburg University
.