Automatic visual recognition
Job description
This PhD position is about fundamental visual recognition. It is in the CV lab of the PRB section, INSY department, TU Delft. The research is about understanding-based research for data efficient visual recognition. Current models use hundred millions of images; where it is unclear where all this data comes from. The data is in the hands of large companies, who do not share their data. These companies have huge resources to process this data.
This is problematic for the long tail of companies and universities doing research and working with visual recognition models, because they neither have such amounts of data available, nor do they have the computational resources to process this data.
The goal of this 4-year PhD project is to let current models use less data. With less data we can better curate it; that means that we can much easier control for important societal challenges such as privacy, copyright, energy use, and biases in the data.
The candidates need to have, or be in the process of finishing, a MSc degree with ample demonstrable experience in doing research through a research-oriented project/thesis done in the field of visual recognition with a clear focus on understanding and/or efficiency.
Include evidence of doing understanding-based research in your application: please include a "storyline" of your research project as described here: https://jvgemert.github.io/storyline.pdf
Job requirements
- Msc degree in fundamental visual recognition: understanding and/or efficient
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.
At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.
Challenge. Change. Impact!
Faculty Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment - which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.
here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.
Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2901 per month in the first year to € 3707 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.
The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.
Coming to Delft Service Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.
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Application procedure
15 July 2025
via the application button and upload the following documents:- CV
- Motivational letter
- And the storyline for one of your finished research projects.
Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the