Leiden University invites applications for a fully funded, full-time PhD Candidate position on Responsible AI for Online Safety within the System and Security cluster at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), Faculty of Science. This interdisciplinary research project sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and computational social science, focusing on trustworthy and accountable methods to tackle online manipulation, fraud, and harms.
Position Overview
| Designation | PhD Candidate |
|---|---|
| Research Area | Responsible AI, Cybersecurity, Computational Social Science, Online Safety |
| Institution | Leiden University (Faculty of Science, LIACS) |
| Location | Leiden, Netherlands |
| Employment Type | Full-time (1.0 FTE, 38 hours/week) |
| Duration | 4 years (1 year initial, extendable by 3 years upon positive evaluation) |
| Salary | €3,204 to €4,051 gross per month (Payscale P) |
| Application Deadline | 13 December 2026 (23:59 CET) |
Research Area and Project Focus
Artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, is rapidly transforming digital ecosystems and access to information, creating both unprecedented opportunities and critical risks for online safety. This PhD project aims to develop trustworthy, accountable, and robust AI methods that remain reliable even in adversarial scenarios where malicious actors or automated agents attempt manipulation.
Key research topics include:
- Modeling and detecting AI-driven manipulation, including coordinated influence campaigns and malicious social bots.
- Developing automated early warning systems for online harms such as digital fraud and scams.
- Investigating how humans and artificial intelligence systems can collaboratively detect and counter online deception and manipulation.
Scholarship and Position Description
The successful PhD candidate will be embedded in the System and Security cluster at LIACS, under the direct supervision of Dr. Valerio La Gatta and Dr. Olga Gadyatskaya from the Leiden Organizational Cyber Security Group. Responsibilities include conducting cutting-edge original research, publishing and presenting findings at top-tier international venues in AI and cybersecurity, serving as a teaching assistant, and authoring a PhD dissertation.
What Leiden University Offers:
- An initial one-year contract, extended for an additional three years following a positive mid-term review (covered by the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities).
- A gross monthly salary scaling from €3,204 in the first year to €4,051 in the fourth year (38 hours/week, Payscale P).
- An 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
- Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel.
- Generous annual leave entitlements (minimum 29 days per year, with flexible arrangements to accrue up to 96 additional leave hours).
- Comprehensive pension coverage via the ABP pension scheme.
- Home-working allowance, provided laptop, and hybrid working opportunities within the Netherlands.
Eligibility and Qualifications
Candidates must meet the following criteria:
- A completed Master’s degree (or equivalent, or near completion) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Computational Social Science, or a closely related quantitative field.
- A solid background in machine learning; familiarity with natural language processing (NLP), large language models (LLMs), or complex network analysis is an advantage.
- Strong programming proficiency (particularly in Python and modern deep learning libraries such as PyTorch) alongside experience handling real-world datasets.
- Genuine interest in the societal impact of AI and cross-disciplinary research bridging computational methods with social sciences.
- Prior research experience (e.g., an academic master’s thesis or peer-reviewed publication) is a plus.
- Fluency in written and spoken English (Dutch language skills are not required).
How to Apply
Interested applicants must submit their application online through the official Leiden University vacancy portal. Your application dossier should include the following documents in PDF format:
- Cover Letter: 1–2 pages detailing your motivation, relevant background, and specific research interests related to the project.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Detailed academic and professional background.
- Degree Certificates & Transcripts: Bachelor’s and Master’s transcripts and diplomas (or an official statement of expected graduation date).
- Writing Sample: A copy or draft of your Master’s thesis or an academic publication (if available).
- Code Repositories: Links to public repositories (such as GitHub) or software projects you have developed (if available).
- References: Names and contact information for up to two academic referees (e.g., thesis supervisors).
For inquiries regarding project details, please contact Dr. Valerio La Gatta at v.la.gatta@liacs.leidenuniv.nl. For recruitment process questions, contact jobs@liacs.leidenuniv.nl.
Last Date to Apply
The deadline to submit your application is 13 December 2026 at 23:59 CET. Early submissions are encouraged, as applications will be processed as they arrive.
Apply Link
Click here to apply directly at Leiden University Careers Portal
