Are you interested in combining social neuroscience and explainable AI to uncover how the brain encodes social interaction mechanisms and tracks uncertainty in social situations? 

We invite applications for an appointment as a PhD student in EEG Foundation Models. The position is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark grant titled: “Decoding neural signatures of social coordination and metacognition using EEG-specialized transformers ”. 

The PhD position is 3 years, starting from 1 March 2026. 

You will primarily be involved in working within the social interaction and neuroscience (SINe Lab) group, with the aim of developing explainable AI for understanding of neural mechanisms underlying social coordination.

You will be based within the Section for Cognitive Systems, which is a lively and research-oriented group of scientists and support staff with a broad interest in information processing in humans and computers, and a particular focus on the signals they exchange, and the opportunities these signals offer for modelling and engineering of cognitive systems. 

Responsibilities and qualifications
As part of an interdisciplinary team, consisting of social neuroscientists (supervised by Assoc. Prof. Ivana Konvalinka) and machine learning researchers (co-supervised by Prof. Lars Kai Hansen), you will be responsible for designing and running interactive multi-person (hyperscanning) EEG experiments, implementing and developing EEG-specialized transformers, testing them on EEG data from social interaction experiments, developing new explainability methods, and disseminating the results at international conferences and by publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

The successful candidate should possess: 

• excellent interpersonal skills, which are required to work with others, in a friendly and interdisciplinary environment
• experience with EEG signal processing and analysis, particularly working with hyperscanning-EEG datasets 
• experience with applying machine learning to EEG data
• experience with running experiments with human participants, particularly joint action studies 
• strong programming skills in Python

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Associate Prof. Ivana Konvalinka. 

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

The period of employment is 3 years. The starting date is 1 March 2026 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position. 

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information  
Further information may be obtained from Associate Prof. Ivana Konvalinka (ivako@dtu.dk ). 

You can read more about DTU Compute at www.compute.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 30 December 2025 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• 1 page PhD project proposal

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU Compute
DTU Compute – Department of Mathematics and Computer Science – is an internationally recognised academic environment with over 400 employees and 10 research sections. We broadly cover digital technologies within mathematics, data science, computer science, and computer engineering, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, internet of things (IoT), chip design, cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, social networks, fairness, and data ethics. Our research is rooted in basic research and centres on mathematical models of the physical and virtual world, as a basis for the analysis, design, and implementation of complex systems. We focus on ensuring that our research results contribute to creating a better society by supporting areas such as health, green transition, energy supply, and life science. We collaborate with universities, public and private organisations, and companies in Denmark and abroad, and through DTU’s startup ecosystem, we encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. We have a strong ethical, human, and sustainable approach that ensures integrity in our work. Therefore, we strive for and take responsibility for driving the democratisation of digital technologies, so that everyone has the opportunity to actively participate in the development, and we ensure a continued open, democratic, and inclusive society for the benefit of all. At DTU Compute, we value diversity, inclusion, and a flexible work-life balance. Read more about us at  www.compute.dtu.dk .

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.