[iva] [job] PhD position - Human-AI Decision-making for Adolescent Mental Well-being (TUDelft, The Netherlands)

[Willem-Paul Brinkman - EWI]

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Position: PhD student in Human-AI Decision-making for Adolescent Mental Well-being
Location: Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
Contract: 4 years, 36-40 hours per week
Salary: € 2.541,00 - € 3.247,00
Deadline: 16 Jan 2023
Vacancy number: TUD03145
Information: https://tinyurl.com/25d9vrzb
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###  Ph.D. Position:  ###
The flagship Protect Me (Proactive Technology-supported prevention and Mental Health in adolescence) focuses on the mental well-being of youth. You will be positioned within the Web Information Systems group of the Software Technology Department at TU Delft, one of the leading partners of the flagship PROTECT ME. The mission of this program is to optimize the well-being of all youth by proactively tackling problems, moving from cure to care, and detecting emotional problems before they emerge and impair lives. 


*** Job description ***

This Ph.D. project, with an overall aim of optimizing the well-being of Dutch youth aged 12 to 25, will be part of a work package on Human-AI Decision-making. This will entail a goal to improve decision-making surrounding the identification of individuals who need a particular intervention and the understanding of when they need it. To realize this goal, the Ph.D. project will combine professional expertise with the power of novel Human-AI collaborative workflows. This will include building adaptive, personalized, responsible, and ethical algorithms, designing and implementing interactive chatbots, and explaining algorithmic advice to stakeholders like adolescents, parents, or caregivers. Collaboration within our multidisciplinary team of machine learning and AI experts, clinicians, data scientists, and industrial designers will play a key role in achieving our goals. 
Our time's pressing and complex social challenges call for convergence, crossing boundaries between institutions and disciplines to create new perspectives and solutions. For this reason, TU Delft, Erasmus MC, and Erasmus University Rotterdam are joining forces in Convergence. Within the convergence theme of Health & Technology, we form new frameworks that promote scientific discoveries and technological innovation in health and healthcare. We do this by working on groundbreaking research and innovation bundled in 10 leading international research flagships.


*** Flagship: PROTECT ME ***

Societal problem. 13-25% of Dutch youth (aged 12-25) suffer from depression or anxiety. Such mental health problems have long-lasting negative effects, including educational dropout, worse physical health, and increased inequality. Mental health problems cost Dutch society 2 billion euros annually. Adequate and timely identification and treatment are currently impossible due to long waiting lists, time-consuming monitoring procedures, and the lack of personalized, proactive prevention strategies. Hence, systematic changes in our approach to youth mental health are sorely needed. For more information see: https://convergence.nl/protect-me-opening-article/

Scientific ambition: Optimizing the well-being of Dutch youth aged 12 to 25 by –
(WP 1) improving early identification of mental health problems, using cutting-edge real-time measures, smartphone, and wearable technology, and data modeling;
(WP 2) improving the decision-making of who needs which intervention and when combining professional expertise with artificial intelligence;
(WP 3) creating and evaluating new technology-driven proactive interventions (e.g., eHealth).
Our integrated approach involves stakeholders and end-users in each step (WP 4); builds a sustainable infrastructure and collaboration for convergence and impact (WP 5).
Output outcome, impact. Apart from aiming to make scientific contributions in tackling mental health problems, we will immediately provide new ways to improve detection, decision-making, and intervention, new methods and approaches, and user-friendly and cost-effective solutions for youth and professionals. In the long term, our contributions can aid in the proactive, personalized, accessible, and cost-effective prevention of mental health problems. The ultimate impact we envision is a decrease in adolescents entering specialized mental health care, shorter waiting lists, a significant reduction in societal costs of adolescent mental health problems, and, most importantly, the optimal well-being of all youth.  

*** Requirements ***

We seek motivated individuals interested in pursuing a Ph.D. Ideal candidates would have an MSc degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, be broadly interested in Human-AI Interaction, and build hybrid human-machine systems to tackle problems of societal importance. Candidates with experience in quantitative and qualitative research, as well as experience with academic writing and presenting in English, are encouraged to apply. Since the candidate will be a part of a multidisciplinary team, good communication skills are essential. The project and some tasks may require engagement with Dutch youth or guardians and health experts.  Suitable candidates will be expected to communicate in Dutch or be interested and comfortable with learning the language swiftly.
• Strong interest and experience in conducting empirical research (e.g., user studies) and familiarity with qualitative and quantitative methods, and an understanding of user-centered design methods
• A proven record and interest in further developing your problem-solving, programming, and analytical web/mobile software design and development skills.
• Proficient in written and verbal English communication
• Affinity with guiding and teaching students
• Ability to work in a team, take the initiative, obtain results, and be systematic and communicative.
• Interest in mental health and the youth.
Doing a Ph.D. at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate can 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 Graduate Schools Admission Requirements at www.tudelft.nl/onderwijs/opleidingen/phd/admission <http://www.tudelft.nl/onderwijs/opleidingen/phd/admission>


*** 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 € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 in the fourth year. As a Ph.D. 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 aims to develop your transferable, discipline-related, and research skills.
- The TU Delft offers a customizable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sports memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants, we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.


*** TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) ***

The 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 disciplines - electrical engineering, mathematics, and computer science. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make future-proof. We are also working in a world where humans and computers reinforce each other. We are mapping out disease processes using single-cell data and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. There is plenty of room here for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1,100 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment. For more information about faculty see: www.tudelft.nl/en/eemcs/

The Software Technology Department contributes both to the foundations of software and computer systems and to the understanding of the operation of such systems. Therefore, its research approach is fundamental--designing algorithms and abstractions, developing new concepts and theories, and identifying principles, as well as experimental--engineering and analyzing the behavior of actual systems. It is this combination of design, engineering, and analysis that characterizes the research of the Software Technology department.
*** Additional information ***
For more information about this position, please get in touch with Dr. Willem-Paul Brinkman W.P.Brinkman at tudelft.nland Dr. Ujwal Gadiraju U.K.Gadiraju at tudelft.nl.


 *** Application procedure ***

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply via the application button before January 16, 2023, and upload your motivation letter and a detailed CV.
If your CV fits the position, you will be invited for an interview with the supervisor(s). 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.