PhD on AI-Driven Lifestyle Coaching for People with Severe Mental Illnesses - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Introduction

Join the THRIVE-project and help develop personalized lifestyle coaching solutions for people with severe mental illness. We are hiring a technically strong and socially motivated PhD candidate to join our collaboration between Eindhoven University of Technology (www.tue.nl), TNO (www.tno.nl), and project partners all over the Netherlands for a 4-year research position that bridges human-computer interaction, computer science, design, and behavior change.

Job Description

In the Netherlands, almost 300.000 people suffer from severe mental illness (SMI, e.g., bipolar disorder, recurrent major depressions), which has major impacts on their life quality. Adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors, like physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and stress management, could help them a lot and complement psychological and pharmacological treatments. However, while lifestyle coaching is already included in care guidelines, its implementation remains too demanding and costly for professionals. To address this challenge, the THRIVE project aims to develop a personalized AI-driven tailored lifestyle coaching solution that is accessible via users’ own smartphones and that delivers just-in-time guidance integrated in their daily lives.

To realize this goal, we invite highly motivated candidates with a background in human-computer interaction (HCI), computer science, AI, or design to apply for a PhD position in the Department of Industrial Design at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). You will work together with academic, industrial, and societal partners across the Netherlands to realize this ambitious project. At Eindhoven University of Technology, you will be supervised by Sebastian Cmentowski, Pieter van Gorp, and Panos Markopoulos. Additionally, your research will be conducted at and guided by TNO Health & Work in Leiden under supervision of Hilde van Keulen and Pepijn van Empelen.

Based on the needs of people with SMI, you will establish a data collection infrastructure using ecological momentary assessments, digital diaries, and wearables to collect mental-health influencing factors. Therefore, you will extend existing state-of-the-art tools and AI libraries developed at the TU/e, such as GameBus and Experiencer. The collected data forms the basis for developing predictive AI models that tailor coaching content and timing to individual needs. On the frontend, you will further develop a lifestyle coaching system that follows established behavior change and gamification strategies and that uses the developed models to create a conversational interface to adapt to individual’s goals and needs. The developed intervention will finally be evaluated in a feasibility study with help from our clinical partners and prepared for integration within care practice.

Your Role:

• Establish data collection from users with SMI using ecological momentary assessments, digital diaries, and wearables
• Develop predictive AI models for just-in-time adaptive interventions
• Co-design AI-driven just-in-time adaptive lifestyle coaching with people with SMI and mental health care professionals using a conversational framework, behavior change techniques, and gamification strategies
• Evaluate the developed interventions in a longitudinal feasibility study with clinical partners
• Examine the technical connection of the developed coaching solution with existing digital health platforms
• Actively participate in the THRIVE consortium and collaborate with our academic, clinical, and industrial partners
• Work part-time at TNO Health & Work’s office in Leiden
• Publish and present your research at leading venues (CHI, TOCHI, JMIR, EHPS, Health Tech, etc.)
  
  

Job Requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, Industrial Design, or a related field.
• A research-oriented attitude (accountable, visionary, ethical, collaborative, curious,…).
• An engineering-oriented attitude (can-do, will-build, has-tested,…)
• Strong programming skills (e.g., Python) and app/web development (APIs, databases, front-end development)
• Affinity for working with people with mental illnesses
• Ability to work independently and in interdisciplinary teams
• Excellent communication and planning skills
• Fluent in spoken and written English and Dutch (C1 level)

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you: 

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment. 
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881).  
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%. 
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process. 
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.  
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs. 
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

The Department of Industrial Design conducts research on and education in the design of systems with emerging technologies in a social context. We excel at integrating various academic disciplines, including engineering, design, business, and social sciences.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Sebastian Cmentowski, s.cmentowski@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HR Advice, HRAdviceID@tue.nl.

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.