PhD Candidate in Explainable NLP for Regulatory Compliance Detection

The Faculty of Science and the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) are looking for a:

PhD Candidate in Explainable NLP for Regulatory Compliance Detection

Are you passionate about Explainable AI (XAI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP)? Join our interdisciplinary team on compliance detection in Dutch regulatory contexts! This PhD position is about research in Explainable NLP for Regulatory Compliance Detection in Dutch Regulatory Contexts. You will develop AI-driven methods to detect and explain regulatory "grey areas," working closely with experts in AI and law.  You will be a part of the ICAI lab AI4Oversight, and collaborate with two universities, TNO and four inspectorates, together with five other PhD candidates. Together with these partners you will work on challenges in the inspection domain.
This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to high-impact research at the intersection of AI, law, and society, with a collaborative and flexible working environment.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and fine-tune Natural Language Inference (NLI) models for detecting subtle cases of non-compliance in regulatory texts;
• Design and implement Explainable AI (XAI) techniques to make compliance decisions understandable to non-technical stakeholders;
• Collect, analyze and process Dutch-language data from regulatory organizations and policy documents;
• Conduct experiments to evaluate and validate AI models on real-world regulatory cases in sectors such as education, transportation, and infrastructure;
• Collaborate with domain experts (e.g., regulatory bodies, policymakers) to ensure practical relevance and effectiveness of the developed methods;
• Publish research findings in top-tier AI and NLP conferences and journals;
• Participate in project meetings and contribute to open-source tools and datasets to advance explainable compliance checking;

Selection Criteria 

• A Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field.
• Strong background in Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning, or Explainable AI (XAI);
• Experience with deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) and NLP libraries (e.g., Hugging Face, spaCy);
• Interest in legal AI, regulatory compliance, and explainability;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary setting;
• Strong programming skills (Python preferred) and experience with large-scale text processing;
• Excellent written and spoken English; knowledge of Dutch is a plus but not required;
• A background check may be part of the selection procedure;

Research at our faculty

The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expand fundamental knowledge by curiosity and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to contribute to addressing the major societal challenges of the future. 

The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organised in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2.300 staff and almost 5,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together. For more information, see www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science  and  https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at.

The Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) is the Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science Institute in the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. We offer courses at the Bachelor and Master of Science level in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, ICT in Business, Media Technology, and Bioinformatics. According to an independent research visitation, we are one of the foremost computer science departments of the Netherlands. We strive for excellence in a caring institute, where excellence, fun, and diversity go hand in hand. We offer a clear and inviting career path to young and talented scientists with the ambition to grow. For more information about LIACS, see https://www.cs.leiden.edu

Terms and conditions  

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. Salary ranges from € 2.901,- to € 3.707,-  gross per month (pay scale P in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). 

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. 

All our PhD students are embedded in the Leiden University Graduate School of Science www.graduateschools.leidenuniv.nl. Our graduate school offers several PhD training courses at three levels: professional courses, skills training and personal effectiveness. In addition, advanced courses to deepen scientific knowledge are offered by the research school.

D&I statement
Diversity and inclusion are core values of Leiden University. Leiden University is committed to becoming an inclusive community which enables all students and staff to feel valued and respected and to develop their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High quality teaching and research is inclusive.

Information 
Enquiries can be made to Prof. Suzanne Verberne, email: s.verberne@liacs.leidenuniv.nl.
If you have any questions about the procedure, you can send an email to: jobs@liacs.leidenuniv.nl.

Applications 

Please submit online your application via the blue button in the vacancy. Please ensure that you upload the following additional documents quoting the vacancy number:

• Your letter of motivation;
• Curriculum vitae with a list of publications
• Research Interests Statement (max 1 A4 page)
• Two reference letters, including names, affiliation, telephone numbers, and email addresses, who have agreed to be contacted.     

Only applications received before 31-03-2025 can be considered.