PhD Position Rethinking Electrical Engineering Education in …, Delft

Job description Join us in exploring how students actually learn with AI: what competencies truly matter, and how we can assess not just answers, but thinking, reasoning, and the ownership students bring to their work.

This PhD position focuses on rethinking electrical engineering education in the age of AI at TU Delft's Electrical Engineering Education (EEE) section.

AI is changing what it means to be an electrical engineer— and we think that's one of the most exciting research questions out there right now. At TU Delft's Electrical Engineering Education (EEE) section, we're looking for a PhD researcher to investigate a crucial question: as AI tools become capable of coding, designing circuits, and processing signals, what should students actually learn, and how do we know when they've learned it?

This isn't just a theoretical exercise. AI is already reshaping engineering practice at speed— and that raises urgent questions about which competencies remain essential for critical judgement, systems thinking, and responsible decision‑making, and which can be meaningfully supported by AI. Your research will help us figure out where that line is, and what it means for how we teach.

As part of our team, you'll take a fresh look at EE curricula— not just what students learn, but how they learn and how we assess their growth. A central aim of the project is to move beyond grading final outputs and start understanding what's happening in between: the reasoning, the decision‑making, the creative instincts students bring when working withAI. We want to know how students think, not just what they produce.

The research is grounded in a critical thinking perspective and explores how AI shifts the balance between theory, practice, and the genuinely creative parts of engineering— design, system development, problem framing. You'll be working in our hands‑on educational environments at TU Delft: labs, makerspaces, project‑based courses, and real electrical engineering classrooms.

You'll investigate how students interact with AI tools, how that shapes their learning behaviours and sense of agency, and how they position their own contributions relative to what the AI generates. Methodologically, you'll combine design‑based research, learning analytics, and qualitative methods to develop and test new approaches to learning and assessment — formats that make students’ reasoning visible, that encourage critical engagement with AI‑generated solutions, and that support reflective, responsible use of AI.

In practice, this means you will be:

Investigating AI use in EE learning environments.

Examining its impact on what competencies matter.

Designing and running new assessment approaches.

Developing ways to evaluate students’ reasoning beyond the final answer.

Working closely with teaching staff and contributing to academic publications throughout.

What you’ll help us build

New insights into how AI reshapes competencies and student agency in EE education.

A clearer picture of which skills are essential versus AI‑supported.

Practical frameworks that align learning objectives, AI use, and assessment.

Your work will shape the future of EE education at TU Delft— and contribute to leading venues in engineering education and the learning sciences.

If you’re curious about education, excited by the possibilities (and the risks) of AI in engineering, and want your research to have real impact on how the next generation of engineers is trained — we’d love to have you with us.

Job requirements

A Bachelors degree in engineering, education, learning sciences, or a related field.

A Master’s degree in engineering, education, learning sciences, or a related field.

A strong interest in electrical engineering education, learning processes, and the role of AI in education.

Affinity with both technical and educational research (e.g., AI, data analysis, or learning sciences).

Experience with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.

Strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills.

Excellent command of English.

Conditions of employment Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4‑year period of employment in principle, in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5‑year contract includes an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline‑related and research skills.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

If you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job, TU Delft is committed to making your move as smooth as possible. Support is available for relocation and settling in the Netherlands, and a Dual Career Programme is available to support an accompanying partner with their job search.

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