Job description

TACIT Project

This position is based within the NWO's Perspectief project, TACIT (Inclusive Technologies for Access and Social Participation). The goal is to co-design AI-enabled adaptive image and schema descriptions for digitized books and collections of the National Library of the Netherlands (KB) for blind and visually impaired readers.

Background

Around 25% of the Dutch population lives with long-term visual, hearing, or cognitive disabilities and diversities, often facing barriers to participation, equity and inclusion. The European Accessibility Act (EAA), which mandates that EU service providers ensure digital accessibility by 2025, marks a critical step toward reducing these inequalities. However, technology that is not co-designed with affected communities often lacks social acceptance and fails to meet real needs. As part of the TACIT (Inclusive Technologies for Access and Social Participation) project, this PhD position will contribute to the co-design and co-creation of AI and immersive media technologies through inclusive Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and participatory design methods. TACIT aims to enhance the accessibility of public services, accelerate the adoption of the EAA, drive innovation in assistive technologies, and promote broader societal inclusion through equitable, inclusive, and human-centered design. The TACIT project is funded by the NWO Perspectief program.

Position Overview

As part of a larger research initiative, TACIT (Inclusive Technologies for Access and Social Participation), focused on the co-design of inclusive and accessible AI and XR technologies for people with disabilities. The TU Delft Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science (EEMCS) invites applications for a PhD position aimed at developing advanced AI-driven image description systems tailored for blind and visually impaired (BVI) readers, addressing the diverse and evolving needs of users with different types and levels of visual and cognitive diversities. Leveraging large language and multimodal models, the research will focus on developing AI technologies to generate informative, concise, and personalized descriptions that enhance accessibility across various contexts. The candidate will engage in identifying user requirements, fine-tuning models for accessibility tasks, and designing mechanisms that automatically adapt image content to individual user profiles. The project also involves close collaboration with BVI individuals and other stakeholders through participatory design and evaluation, ensuring that the solutions are robust not only technically but also grounded in real-world accessibility needs.

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate with a strong interest in artificial intelligence, accessibility, and human-centered design to join the TACIT project. The candidate will work on developing adaptive, AI-driven technologies for people living with blindness and vision impairments. This research will combine technical innovation with inclusive design practices to ensure that the resulting solutions are not only effective but also trusted and adopted by the communities they aim to serve. The ideal candidate is passionate about creating socially impactful technology and eager to engage directly with people with disabilities, caretakers and relevant stakeholders, through co-design and participatory research.

The successful PhD candidate will be based at the intersection of the Web Information Systems Group (EEMCS Faculty, TU Delft, https://www.wis.ewi.tudelft.nl) and the Knowledge and Intelligence Design Group (IDE Faculty, TU Delft, https://kind.fyi). The candidate will also be co-hosted by the KB, the National Library of the Netherlands (https://www.kb.nl/).

Job requirements

The successful PhD candidate will have:

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, AI or Data Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Excellent programming and research skills.
• Fluency in Dutch is recommended but not mandatory.
• Strong interest in accessibility, assistive technology, human-computer interaction, and co-design research.
• Ability and willingness to work in a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder team, including working with people and communities living with disabilities.
• Prior publications and experience in AI, human-computer interaction research are assets but not a requirement.

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 of 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.

Click 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 €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

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.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr. Jie Yang or Dr. Himanshu Verma, via j.yang-3@tudelft.nl of h.verma@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this position? Please apply no later than January 4, 2026, via the application button below.

Applicants should send their CV, and a cover letter outlining your qualifications, including a sample of scientific writing (e.g., published paper, thesis excerpt, or project report). Please note that if you lean too heavily on ChatGPT or a similar Generative AI application, your application letter will be very generic and difficult for us to judge.

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 Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.