Teaser Text

We invite applications for a fully-funded PhD position in the emerging intersection of artificial intelligence, traffic management, and decision support systems. The successful candidate will explore the application of foundation models, such as large language models (LLMs), to support and enhance real-time decision-making in road traffic management.

The project aims to bridge the gap between recent advances in AI and machine learning, in particular, multimodal and instruction-tuned foundation models, and the complex operational challenges faced by traffic operators, municipalities, and mobility service providers. This includes the integration of symbolic reasoning, predictive analytics, and reinforcement learning within the context of intelligent traffic control systems.

This PhD is a joint project between Leiden University and Technolution, and a part of a larger research programme in collaboration with a number of partners in both science and industry. The specific focus of the research done is to be determined in collaboration with the co-supervisors: prof. Rob V. van Nieuwpoort (Leiden University) and Tijs van Bakel (Researcher at Technolution).

Research activities

• Investigate how LLMs and related foundation models can be adapted and fine-tuned for spatial-temporal data and traffic control domains.
• Develop hybrid AI architectures combining symbolic domain knowledge, real-time data streams, and probabilistic inference.
• Design and evaluate decision support tools capable of interacting with human operators using natural language, scenario simulation, and action explanation.
• Study the efficiency, robustness, generalization, and ethical implications of using foundation models in safety-critical infrastructure.

What you will do

• Conduct original research;
• Publish scientific work in well regarded peer-reviewed journals and/or present at top-level international conferences;
• Pursue and complete a PhD thesis within the appointed duration of 4 years;
• Engage and collaborate with other researchers and developers within LIACS, Technolution, the project consortium, and beyond;
• Assist in relevant teaching activities;

Where you will work

Curiosity and passion for science are what connect our people: we seek to know, understand, interpret, and create. Our mission is to provide excellent education and research across the full spectrum of the natural sciences, contributing to solutions for major societal challenges. Our eight institutes—ranging from mathematics, computer science, astronomy, physics, chemistry, and biopharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences—together with the Lorentz Center and the Hortus botanicus, form the backbone of our faculty and are closely connected. We work in a safe, stimulating, and international environment where enthusiasm and passion drive both research and education, and where building connections and collaboration, both within and beyond the faculty, come naturally.
The faculty is home to more than 2,700 staff members and over 6,000 students enrolled in nine bachelor's and fifteen master's programs. We are located at the heart of the Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s largest science parks, where academia and industry come together.

You will be part of the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS). LIACS offers the bachelor's programs in Computer Science and Data Science/Artificial Intelligence, as well as master's programs in Computer Science, ICT in Business and the Public Sector, Media Technology, and Science Based Business. According to an independent research assessment, LIACS is one of the leading computer science departments in the Netherlands. We strive for excellence in a supportive institute where academic achievement, enjoyment, and diversity go hand in hand. We offer a clear and welcoming career path for young and talented scientists with the ambition to grow. 

For more information about LIACS, see http://www.cs.leiden.edu.

Technolution

Technolution, founded in 1987, is a Dutch technology innovator that fuses software and electronics to solve complex societal and industrial problems. Through its Technolution Move brand, it develops MobiMaestro, a multimodal traffic-management platform adopted by almost every major Dutch municipality and several provinces. MobiMaestro fuses real-time data from roadside sensors, connected-vehicle feeds, public-transport systems, and digital-twin simulations to orchestrate traffic flows safely and efficiently. Technolution also develops the FlowCube smart AI traffic camera, which uses on-device deep-learning to track vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians without capturing or leaking personal data, ensuring full GDPR compliance.

Beyond mobility, Technolution is also active in the fields of energy, high-tech, manufacturing, and critical information infrastructures. Across all these domains, the company invests in collaborative research with leading knowledge institutes and forward-looking customers, ensuring that cutting-edge insights are translated into reliable, field-proven solutions.

What you bring

A successful candidate would have / be:

• Completed (or soon to be completed) MSc in computer science, AI or a related field;
• Strong programming skills (e.g., Python, PyTorch);
• Familiarity with modern ML frameworks and experience with large-scale models;
• Interest in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of AI and real-world applications;
• Passionate about working collaboratively with other researchers, scientists and industry;
• Excellent analytical and communication skills;
• To communicate fluently in English, both spoken and written;

What we offer

Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.
You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.

We also offer:

• We offer a full-time 1-year term position for initially one year. After a positive evaluation of the progress of the thesis, personal capabilities and compatibility the appointment will be extended by a further three years. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
• A salary between € 3.059,- and € 3.881,- gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (Payscale P);
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP
• Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription and bicycle scheme;
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop.

For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions

What we find important

Want to apply or find out more?

• In choosing between candidates, in case of equal suitability, preference will be given to internal candidates, women, the occupationally disabled and employees with a migration background.
• A pre-employment screening (references, diplomas, certificate of good conduct (VOG)) may be part of the selection procedure.