Researcher AI, Data Science & Crime

Do you have experience in Natural language processing?, Do you have a Master's degree?, Educational background

• You hold a Master's degree or a thesis-based doctorate in artificial intelligence, computer science, data science, statistics, engineering, applied mathematics, economics, sociology, psychology, criminology, safety sciences or a related field

AI expertise

• Experience with or strong interest in AI methods and computational modelling
• Affinity with one or more AI domains such as machine learning, computer vision, NLP, LLMs, explainable AI or hybrid AI
• Willingness to work with real-world, imperfect and socially sensitive data

Research mindset

• Interest in applying AI to crime, security and public decision-making
• Curiosity about the interaction between AI, human expertise and institutional contexts

Personal skills

• Independent and analytical working style, combined with team spirit
• Strong communication skills in English (Dutch is an asset), * In the field 'Diploma': a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.

• We offer you a contract of definite duration (50%) for a period of four months. A higher employment rate (up to 100%) is possible upon mutual agreement. Subject to a positive evaluation, the contract will be extended to a period of two years.
• Your contract will start on 1/05/2026 at the earliest.
• Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale WM1 to WM4 (if you hold a Master's degree) or salary scale PD1 to PD4 (if you hold a doctorate). Click here for more information about our salary scales.
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students. YOUR TASKS Are you interested in artificial intelligence in its broadest sense, and do you want to apply AI techniques to one of the most challenging and socially relevant domains: crime and security? Do you want to work on AI systems that must operate under uncertainty, incomplete information and strategic behaviour? The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a prestigious Consolidator Grant to Prof. dr. Wim Hardyns (Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Ghent University). Within the ERC-funded BIGDATPOL project (www.bigdatpol.com), we are looking for a doctoral researcher with a strong interest in AI-driven analysis, modelling and decision support. About the project Crime and security constitute a demanding testbed for AI. Data are often heterogeneous, noisy, incomplete or strategically manipulated, while AI systems are expected to support high-stakes decision-making in real-world contexts. The BIGDATPOL project explores how artificial intelligence techniques can be used to analyse, model and interpret crime-related phenomena across European cities. The project explicitly embraces a broad AI perspective, including (but not limited to): * machine learning and statistical learning * computer vision and sensor-based data analysis * natural language processing and large language models * hybrid, interpretable and human-centred AI approaches The focus lies on scientific innovation, interpretability and societal responsibility, rather than on narrow, purely technical optimisation. Your role within the project As a researcher, you will: * Develop and evaluate AI-based models and methods for analysing crime-related data * Explore AI approaches for risk modelling, pattern recognition and anomaly detection * Contribute to interpretable and transparent AI solutions for complex decision environments * Work with diverse data sources, including spatial, temporal, textual and sensor-based data * Collaborate in an interdisciplinary team and interact with public and institutional partners * Disseminate research through international publications and conferences