Tilburg University | Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
is looking for a PHD candidate
PhD candidate in Machine Learning-Informed Formal Theory Construction
(Methodology and Statistics)
Department: Methodology and Statistics
Location: Tilburg
Contract size: 1.0 fte (40 hours a week)
Full-time gross monthly salary: € 3.095 - € 3.881
Contract duration: 12 months with a possible extension of 36 months
Desired starting date: September 2026
Do you want to shape the future of social scientific research? Then join our team as a PhD student to co-develop machine learning-informed methods for theory construction.
Theories describe scientists’ understanding of phenomena. Ideally, theories are used to derive hypotheses, and continuously updated based on new insights. In practice, many scientific fields focus near-exclusively on testing hypotheses, but neglect to properly ground these in theory, or update theory based on the results. In this PhD project, you will develop methods to help applied (social) scientists construct theories based on patterns in high-frequency longitudinal (experience sampling) data, using methods including causal discovery, interpretable machine learning, and continuous time modeling.
Your position
As a PhD candidate, you will conduct independent empirical and methodological research. You will develop and validate methods for constructing formal theories from patterns in longitudinal data. There is a project plan, which allows for substantial creativity to extend the project in directions that align with your interests. Potential directions include:
- Longitudinal causal discovery methods
- Continuous time modeling
- Ordinary differential equations
- Interpretable machine learning, especially for time series
- Causal loop diagrams
- Dynamical systems modeling
This PhD project is part of a NWO Vidi project awarded to dr. Caspar J. Van Lissa (Dept. of Methodology & Statistics), who will serve as daily supervisor and will be available for daily check-ins and weekly scheduled meetings. The other members of the supervision team will be dr. Leonie Vogelsmeier and dr. Sophie Hendrikse. You will join the INSIGHT Lab, which comprises five more PhD students (three internal, two exernal) and a data manager, all working on projects related to inductive methods for deriving theories from data patterns. Existing collaborations with applied researchers provide opportunities for proofs-of-concept of your newly developed methods with real data, and – time permitting – additional publications, thus improving your resumé and network.
Your responsibilities
- Conducting methodological and empirical research
- Developing user-friendly open source research software (in R and, optionally, Python)
- Preparing scientific articles for publication in international journals (open access), present key findings at national and international scientific conferences, and write a dissertation that connects your scientific articles.
- Active participation in the Department of Methodology and Statistics, Theory Methods Society, and optionally, your choice of other professional organizations, including the Tilburg Experience Sampling Center (TESC), Tilburg Meta-Research Center, Open Science Community, Paul Meehl Graduate School, and/or the Interuniversity Graduate School of Psychometrics and Sociometrics (IOPS).
- Participating in collaborations with applied researchers in the areas of (mental) healthcare, climate science, adolescents’ emotional development and substance (ab)use, cooperation, and morality, or new collaborations established based on your interests.
- Contributing to education and supervision (e.g. supervising bachelor’s theses and research skills groups; maximum 10% of your time)
Your profile
We are looking for a PhD candidate with a strong background in machine learning, data science, or applied/mathematical statistics, and with an interest in philosophy of science. Interdisciplinary candidates, especially with strong quantitative skills and a background in social science or philosophy of science, can also apply.
Other requirements include:
- A master’s thesis (to be completed before September 1st) which, preferably, involves machine learning, a simulation study, and/or pertains to theory development.
- Programming skills in R, Python, or C++
- Research skills and data analytical abilities.
- Communication and cooperation skills and the willingness to work in a team.
- Project management and organization skills.
- Interest in open science and team science.
- Proficiency in English, including academic writing.
- Interest in providing small-scale education, such as teaching working groups or bachelor thesis supervision.
Our offer
Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:
- A position based on 1.0 fte (40 hours per week).
- A salary, starting at €3.095 in the first year and increasing to a maximum of €3.881 gross per month for full-time employment, based on the standard UFO profile and salary scale for PhDs.
- This is a vacancy for for a PhD in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 8 sub b CLA DU. You will initially be given a temporary contract for the duration of 12 months.
- Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
- Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
- The opportunity to work partly on campus and partly from home with a home office allowance of €2 per day.
- Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
- A monthly internet allowance of €25.
- An options model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave, more pension, a bicycle or personal training at our Sports Center.
- A moving allowance (subject to conditions).
- Candidates from abroad may qualify for a tax-free allowance for extraterritorial expenses equal to 30% of taxable salary.
- A pension with ABP; the largest Dutch pension fund.
- Training in personal development, career development, leadership, education, and research. Or a language course at our Language Center.
- A diverse work culture in which we embrace differences, everyone is welcome and given equal opportunities.
- A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport.
For more information, see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities.
Information and application
Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact to email Caspar van Lissa via
[email protected].
We kindly invite you to apply before June 15st, 2026; this can only be done online. Address your cover letter to dr. Caspar van Lissa.
Important: Reducing hiring bias
We strive to reduce hiring bias and give all candidates a fair chance. Thus, we require applicants to omit potentially biasing demographic information from the motivation letter and CV. You can do so by using initials instead of your full name, and omitting references to your sex, gender, profile picture, and other demographics. You do not need to censor your places of work or institutes of study. The interview stage will not be anonymous.
Your application should include:
- Maximum 1000 word letter of motivation, explaining 1) why you are interested in the position, describing 2) how the position connects to your prior education and (school/work) experience, describing 3) the direction you would like to take the project in and 4) the ways in which you would most enjoy contributing to the team.
- Curriculum vitae (education/work experience, skills, etc.)
- If you are invited for the interview, we will ask for:
- A sample of your academic writing (e.g. bachelor/master thesis draft, written assignment).
- A sample of code you have written
You will receive notification from us within two weeks of the application deadline. The first interviews will take place on June 29-30th, 2026.
The selection committee consists of:
1. dr. Caspar J. van Lissa (daily supervisor)
2. dr. Leonie Vogelsmeier (supervisor)
3. dr. Sophie Hendrikse (supervisor)
4. Ward Eiling, Msc (PhD student)
You would ideally start working at Tilburg University on September 1st, 2026.
This vacancy has been published simultaneously internally and externally.
About Tilburg University
Tilburg University is an academic, inclusive, and engaged community. Together with nearly 3,000 employees, we are committed to broad prosperity, sustainably, and inclusion. For current and future generations. We develop and share knowledge for the requirements of people and our society. This is how we contribute to solving complex social issues and help society move forward.
We educate our 19,500 students of 110 nationalities to become responsible leaders with knowledge, skills, and character. With our education and research for broad prosperity, we exceedingly focus on themes such as mental and preventive care, an inclusive labor market, the energy transition, and digitalization.
About Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral sciences
Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (TSB) is one of the five faculties of Tilburg University. The teaching and research of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences are organized around the themes of “Adaptive societies, organizations, and workers”, “Healthy life span”, and “Personalized prevention and care”. The School’s inspiring working environment challenges its workers to realize their ambitions, involvement and cooperation are essential to achieve this.
Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences | Tilburg University
Department Methodology and Statistics
The Department of Methodology and Statistics is responsible for education and research in methodology and statistics for the social and behavioral sciences.
Methodology and statistics play an essential role in all subfields of the social and behavioral sciences, and related fields. At the Department of Methodology and Statistics we do research on and teach about quantitative and qualitative methods that researchers need in order to answer challenging research questions, come up with strong research designs, critically apply statistical analyses, and avoid bias when interpreting research findings. Within the department, there is a strong focus on developing novel statistical and methodological techniques to tackle complex problems in the social and behavioral sciences.
Department Methodology and Statistics | Tilburg University
Application Code
Tilburg University uses the NVP job application code.
Disclaimer
The text in this job posting is the copyright property of Tilburg University. Use, distribution, and further publication of the job posting without the express permission of Tilburg University is not permitted, and this specifically applies to use by recruitment agencies not acting directly on behalf of Tilburg University. Responses to recruitment by non-contractors of Tilburg University will not be considered.
