Assistant Professors in Language and AI Engineering

Assistant Professors in Language and AI Engineering Departments

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

Introduction

Are you our next Assistant Professor who will explore the frontiers of language, cognition, and AI to drive responsible innovation in data‑driven society? If this aligns with your expertise and ambitions, you may be an excellent addition to our academic community to help shape the future of language and AI engineering.

Job Description

In the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (M&CS), the largest department at TU/e, you will perform top‑level fundamental and applied research and maintain strong ties with industry. The position is embedded in the Data & AI (DAI) cluster within the Data Science Domain (DS), focusing on the foundations of data and AI systems. Language and AI Engineering connects the technical foundations of language, cognition, and AI with the development of responsible, trustworthy, and human‑centered AI systems.

We are seeking two Assistant Professors in Language and AI Engineering. The ideal candidate will pioneer research and collaborate across disciplines, teaching the next generation about language and artificial intelligence. Your work will explore how AI models (e.g., foundation models) can be designed for trustworthy, interpretable applications and deployed responsibly in society. You will develop a strong research profile and publish in leading conferences and journals, contributing to the broader scientific community.

Responsibilities

• AI, Language, and Cognition: Conduct fundamental research into the relationship between language and cognitive capabilities and large‑scale AI models. Explore memory, reasoning, and the nature of machine "understanding" and differentiate genuine understanding from blind benchmark optimization.
• Multimodal Interaction: Research and develop AI systems that interact through diverse modalities, including vision (images, video), language, and physical interfaces (e.g., robotics).
• Human‑AI Collaboration: Design and study models for effective human‑AI partnerships, focusing on complex collaborative tasks that require joint reasoning and consensus‑making.
• Enhancing AI Interpretability and Safety: Develop novel techniques to understand AI model internals, identify, analyze, and mitigate biases, fairness issues, and other safety risks to build more trustworthy systems.
• Societal Impact: Study the application and implications of advanced AI in critical societal contexts—legal systems, engineering, scientific discovery—emphasizing reliability and trustworthiness.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a comparable technical field.
• Strong record of high‑quality academic research, demonstrated by peer‑reviewed publications in AI/ML and related areas.
• Expertise in machine learning, deep learning, and modern AI architecture.
• Expertise in language and/or cognition.
• Research experience in one or more of AI Interpretability & Explainability (XAI), Multimodal Machine Learning, Human‑AI/Human‑Computer Interaction, AI Ethics, Fairness & Safety, or Robotics & AI‑driven physical systems.
• Experience presenting at international scientific meetings (conferences, symposia, workshops).
• Motivation to teach, contribute to teaching processes, and develop excellent teaching skills.
• Strong cooperation skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
• Effective communication and leadership skills, including coaching and mentoring students and staff, leading projects, or chairing groups.
• Excellent written and verbal proficiency in English.

Conditions of Employment

Type of employment: Temporary employment with possibility of permanent employment.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station.

• A year‑end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• A dedicated mentoring program to help you get to know the university and the Dutch research environment.
• A Development Track with the prospect of becoming an Associate Professor. If you have a more senior profile, a tailor‑made career proposal will be considered.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on‑campus children’s daycare and sports facilities.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.

Our University

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands‑on mindset. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact—today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. The university is located in Brainport Eindhoven, a world‑leading tech region with strong R&D activity and a focus on AI, photonics, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.

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