Researcher in Semantic Interoperability and Explainable, Knowledge-driven AI for Smart Systems (SAREF4XAI)

Job description

The rising popularity of AI-powered smart environments for building automation and management raises concerns about interoperability, transparency, and trust. These environments often operate across heterogeneous domains, rely on various standards and protocols, and are tailored to different tasks. This makes it difficult to guarantee meaningful integration, explainable decision-making, and automated task execution. Combining semantic technologies with knowledge-driven AI can help alleviate many of these challenges.

Within the SAREF4XAI project, jointly conducted by the Semantics, Cybersecurity and Services (SCS) group at the University of Twente and the User-Centric Data Science (UCDS) group at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, we offer a 1-year, part-time research position focusing on semantic interoperability and explainable, knowledge-driven AI for smart environments.

The researcher will explore how ontologies, knowledge graphs, and knowledge-driven AI can be combined to support interoperable and explainable applications in the smart buildings domain. Building on open modelling standards and recent breakthroughs in (neuro-) symbolic learning methods, the researcher will investigate and evaluate conceptual and technical approaches for leveraging semantics and formal background knowledge to enhance explainability in downstream AI tasks for complex socio-technical systems.

The position involves close collaboration between both research groups, engagement with external stakeholders, and participation in joint research activities and dissemination efforts, thereby contributing to a broader research agenda on semantic interoperability and explainable, knowledge-driven AI. This project aims to lay the foundation for long-term collaboration and future funding opportunities in the area of trustworthy, transparent, and interoperable AI for smart societies.

Your profile

• MSc degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Industrial Engineering, Data Science, or a closely related field
• Familiarity with knowledge graphs, ontologies, and related semantic technologies, including RDF, SPARQL, and formal logic
• Familiarity with (neuro-) symbolic machine learning methods and their application
• Analytical and conceptual thinking skills to work across technical and organisational perspectives
• Programming skills (e.g. Python, Java, or similar)
• Interest in interdisciplinary applied research

Our offer

• You will be appointed part-time for a period of 12 months for 0.4 FTE within a very stimulating and exciting scientific environment.
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAONU).
• You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 3.546,- (step 0) to € 4.241,- (step 4), depending on experience and qualifications.
• There are excellent benefits, including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme.
• The flexibility to work (partially) from home.
• A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
• Free access to sports facilities on campus.
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid).
• Excellent support for research and facilities for professional and personal development.

Information and application

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before September 7, 2026, and include:

• A Curriculum Vitae, including the names of two possible references, a list of publications, and a list of all courses attended and grades obtained.
• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasising your specific interest, qualifications, and motivations to apply for this position.

For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact Dr. João Rebelo Moreira ( [staat bij de werkgever] )

Screening is part of the selection process.

About the organisation

The faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) uses mathematics, electronics and computer technology to contribute to the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). With ICT present in almost every device and product we use nowadays, we embrace our role as contributors to a broad range of societal activities and as pioneers of tomorrow's digital society. As part of a tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.