PI - 4-Year Predoctoral Research Position in the «DEUSTEK6» Research Group at the University of Deusto
Job Summary
The purpose of this position is to undertake a PhD within the framework of the project “Reciprocal Learning and Collective Intelligence through Human-AI Collaboration for Pro-Environmental Change (RECLAIM)” (administrative reference PID2025-175861OB-I00), funded under the 2025 Knowledge Generation Projects Call - Proyectos de Generación 2025 de Conocimiento».
The successful candidate will join the “DEUSTEK6– Humanized Computing for Smart Sustainable and Healthier Communities and Environments” research team at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Deusto and will pursue their doctoral studies in the PhD Programme in Engineering for Information Society and Sustainable Development.
Job Description & Benefits
Project
RECLAIM “Reciprocal Learning and Collective Intelligence through Human-AI Collaboration for Pro-Environmental Change” (administrative reference PID2025-175861OB-I00) positions citizens and local communities as co-regulators — not merely data providers — of the AI services mediating urban environmental governance (air quality and noise). The project designs a Human-AI Collaboration Framework (HAICF) and Reciprocal Learning Agents (RLAs) with negotiable, explainable and contestable levels of autonomy, deployed in Hybrid Intelligence Scenarios (a university campus and a neighbourhood/school) through Extreme Citizen Science (ECS). The associated PhD thesis focuses on the design, implementation and longitudinal evaluation of these RLAs and the HAICF, following a Design Science Research methodology, to determine how negotiable autonomy and explainability affect trust calibration, perceived agency and sustained pro-environmental behaviour change, yielding design principles transferable to other smart and participatory-governance environments.
ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
Development of a PhD dissertation in artificial intelligence, focusing on human–AI collaboration and its application to environmental challenges.
Design and implementation of intelligent agents with different levels of autonomy, explainability and human oversight.
Development of software prototypes and components, together with the analysis of data obtained from sensors, platforms and user studies.
On-premises deployment of intelligent agents by adapting open-source large language models, while ensuring the energy-efficient use of computational resources.
Participation in real-world pilots conducted on university campuses, in neighbourhoods or in educational centres, using mixed research methods combining quantitative and qualitative approaches.
Publication of scientific results and contribution to the research and knowledge-transfer activities of the RECLAIM project.
Funding institution
Spanish State Research Agency a the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Contract duration and remuneration
The contract will have a maximum duration of 4 years.
Salary: €25,456.10 gross per year.
If the PhD degree is obtained before the end of the four-year period, a Postdoctoral Orientation Period (POP) of a maximum duration of 12 months will be funded, aimed at further professional development and specialisation.
Additional funding
In addition, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities provides additional funding of €7,000 to cover expenses related to research stays at R&D centres and enrolment fees for doctoral studies.
Job Details
Organization Contact
Application Details
Additional Requirements
Skills
Specific Requirements
REQUIREMENTS for PhD position
A bachelor’s and master’s degree providing eligibility for admission to a doctoral programme. Candidates are expected to hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, data science, mathematics or an engineering discipline related to artificial intelligence.
Programming skills and the ability to develop software solutions.
An interest in applied research and the multidisciplinary design of human-centred AI systems.
A good command of English and the ability to work independently within an interdisciplinary team.
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL MERITS
Experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, human–computer interaction or software engineering.
Knowledge of Python, language models, multi-agent systems, explainable AI, API development or web application development.
Experience in statistical analysis, experimental design, data visualisation or mixed-methods research.
Previous participation in research projects, publications, master’s theses, software repositories or technological developments.
An interest in sustainability, citizen science and the use of artificial intelligence to address social and environmental challenges.
Application requirements
Meet the requirements established in Article 12 of the call for “Knowledge Generation Projects 2025”. Specifically, Article 12.2 specifies the evaluation criteria and their corresponding scores (see pages 27 and 28).
Be enrolled in, or have been admitted during Phase 2, to a PhD programme at the University of Deusto for the academic year 2026/2027.
Project Principal Investigators
PI 1: Dr. Diego López de Ipiña
PI 2: Dr. Diego Casado
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS — PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
To submit an application, click on the blue button “APPLY/INSCRÍBETE” and attach the following documents in ONE SINGLE PDF FILE (maximum size: 2 MB) before uploading it in the “CV FILE” section.
Please make sure that the file is not in ZIP or RAR format, as these formats cannot be read.
Curriculum Vitae.
Official academic certificates (academic transcripts) for undergraduate and master’s studies.
The academic certificate must include the name of the degree programmes, the subjects comprising the complete curriculum of the corresponding degree, the courses completed, the grades obtained, and the dates on which they were awarded.
Enrolment certificate in the PhD programme or the corresponding admission letter for the academic year 2026/2027.
Identification Document: scanned copy of DNI, NIE, or passport.
Application deadline
10 October 2026
Information and enquiries
Email: ayudas.fpi@deusto.es
