PhD vacatures

This is your opportunity to work on meaningful problems that directly impact patient care!

You will work in a collaborative team environment with opportunities for professional growth. You will work at the forefront of responsible AI in healthcare with continuous learning opportunities in both ML/AI technologies and healthcare domain knowledge.

We value versatility and growth potential. If your profile aligns with the majority of the requirements below and you are passionate about applying AI to healthcare, we encourage you to apply even if you do not check every box.

We're particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate:

• Strong fundamentals in ML and software engineering.
• Ability to both research/experiment and ship production code.
• Genuine interest in healthcare applications and responsible AI.

Education and Experience:

• BSc, MSc, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related fields
• 2+ years of experience shipping ML code to production
• Demonstrated experience with the full ML lifecycle: from experimentation to production deployment

Technical Skills:

• Strong programming skills in Python, with deep experience in ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, and Scikit-learn.
• Solid understanding of machine learning algorithms, statistics, and mathematical foundations.
• Experience with model training, optimization, and hyperparameter tuning.

LLMs and GenAI:

• Hands-on experience with LLM finetuning and adaptation techniques such as LoRA, QLoRA, PEFT, instruction tuning, and prompt engineering.
• Experience with GenAI architectures and workflows such as RAG, agentic systems, and retrieval mechanisms.
• Familiarity with LLM tooling and frameworks including Hugging Face Transformers, Langchain/LlamaIndex, and vector databases.
• Not just API integration; we need someone who understands how these models work under the hood.

Software Engineering & MLOps:

• Strong software development practices including test-driven development, code review, version control with Git, and documentation.
• Writing clean, maintainable, production-quality code.
• Experience with MLOps tools and practices such as MLflow, Kubeflow, DVC, and Weights & Biases.
• CI/CD pipeline development and management for ML systems.
• Containerization and orchestration using tools such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure and hybrid cloud/on-prem infrastructure.
• Strong focus on model evaluation, validation, and monitoring in production environments.

We are looking for a versatile ML/AI Engineer who can work across the full AI stack. You should be comfortable with both fine-tuning foundation models and shipping production-ready solutions with strong MLOps practices.

Main responsibilities:

Model Development and Deployment

• Design, train, finetune, adapt and evaluate AI models, including foundation models, to improve healthcare processes.
• Implement model finetuning and customization techniques, going beyond API integration to deep model adaptation.
• Productionize models and integrate them into clinical systems and databases.
• Implement scalable ML solutions using MLOps principles, including CI/CD, monitoring, and versioning.

Model Validation and Evaluation

• Develop robust evaluation frameworks tailored to healthcare applications.
• Work with clinical stakeholders to validate model outputs and iterate based on feedback.
• Monitor and optimize model performance in production and implement comprehensive testing strategies to ensure reliability, safety, and scalability.

Collaboration and Communication

• Work closely with cross-functional teams including data scientists, ML engineers, clinicians, and product managers.
• Translate complex technical concepts for non-technical clinical stakeholders.

Other Responsibilities:

Innovation and Experimentation

• Experiment with state-of-the-art algorithms, particularly in LLM applications and clinical NLP.
• Stay current with advances in machine learning, LLMs, MLOps, and responsible AI practices.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of MLOps practices and infrastructure.

Data Handling and Analysis

• Preprocess large clinical datasets such as structured EHR data, clinical notes, and medical protocols.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis and feature engineering for healthcare applications.

You will join a collaborative team of 5 members, of which 3 are data scientists, a Product Owner and one Tech Lead.

Our AI team builds AI solutions that directly impact patient care and clinical decision-making. Working at the intersection of cutting-edge machine learning and clinical medicine, we develop models for clinical NLP, decision support systems, and predictive analytics that help healthcare professionals deliver better care. We build custom solutions and leverage out-of-the-box tools such as LLM models, agents, and RAG systems.

At HagaZiekenhuis, we understand that patients come to us at a vulnerable moment in their lives. They place their trust in our care. We take that trust seriously by providing appropriate care, personal attention, and a safe environment. This will always be our priority. It is the core of our profession. We deliver this appropriate care with genuine attention, collaborative approach and innovative professional expertise. These are our three core values, which reflect who we aspire to be and which we demonstrate in our daily work.

Our hospital provides top clinical care to residents of The Hague, Zoetermeer, and the surrounding areas. HagaZiekenhuis is one of the 27 Top Clinical Teaching Hospitals (STZ), which means we place great emphasis on science, innovation, and research. We also continuously train new healthcare professionals.

We believe it is important that you enjoy coming to work. We say what we think and do what we say — honest, open, and results-driven. In this way, we support your development, both professionally and personally.

• Temporary contract with the prospect of a permanent position.
• Professional development budget for courses, conferences, and learning resources.
• 8,33% vacation allowance and 8,33% end-year bonus.
• Flexible hybrid work model with balanced office and remote work (50-50).

Click here for more information about all benefits.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Click on “solliciteer direct” to apply.

Do you have any questions about HagaZiekenhuis or the vacancy? Please contact Jan Pronk, Manager AI&BI, ja.pronk@hagaziekenhuis.nl. Any questions about the application process? Please contact Jeroen Hoekstra, recruiter, 06 82 04 94 67.

Application deadline: 15 February 2026.

We may close the vacancy earlier if we receive a sufficient number of applications.