Katrien Verbert

KU Leuven is offering several fully funded PhD and postdoc positions in Human-AI Collaboration within the Augment group, part of the Human-Computer Interaction Section of the Department of Computer Science. The research sits at the intersection of human-centered AI , interactive visualization, and intelligent decision support, with a strong emphasis on enabling people to understand, steer, and collaborate with AI systems. The project explores methods that amplify human abilities while preserving human control, with applications spanning entertainment, healthcare, human resources, digital humanities, learning analytics, precision agriculture, media consumption, fintech, and food & nutrition. The positions focus on developing systems that combine optimization algorithms , machine learning , explainable AI , and visual interfaces to improve trust, acceptance, accuracy, and user empowerment. Successful candidates will work on designing, implementing, and evaluating human-centred AI systems across multiple domains. A strong background in programming and AI-related methods is important, especially optimization or related areas. A strong interest in human-computer interaction is essential, and experience with data visualization is a plus. The opportunity is hosted by KU Leuven in Belgium. Funding is available immediately, and the positions are described as fully funded. The research will be carried out at the Department of Computer Science. Applicants are expected to hold an excellent Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related discipline, together with strong programming skills, independent research ability, teamwork skills, and a high level of proficiency in English. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, with an application deadline of 2026-08-14 . For questions, prospective applicants may contact Prof. dr. ir. Katrien Verbert at katrien.verbert@kuleuven.be or Robin De Croon at robin.decroon@kuleuven.be .