Researcher in Geography

Utrecht University

Netherlands

Faculty: Faculty of Geosciences
Department: Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning
Working Hours: 32 to 40 hours per week
Application Deadline: 27 August 2026

Position Overview

In our ERC-funded GeoTrAnsQData project, we are looking for a Scientific Engineer who can provide technical design support and implementation assistance for realizing a prototype for indirect geographic question-answering (GeoQA).

The project aims to answer queries beyond the straightforward retrieval of answers by enabling interaction with geodata infrastructures through dynamically constructed workflows. The selection of relevant geodata (maps), the construction and execution of workflows (i.e., transformations), and ensuring their semantic validity and correctness all play a crucial role in generating answers in the form of answer maps.

You will explore these challenges together with the Principal Investigator as well as a postdoctoral researcher and two PhD candidates. We are looking for a motivated candidate with strong technical and programming skills and relevant project experience to join this interdisciplinary research team at the forefront of GeoAI and question answering research.

Your Responsibilities

You will contribute primarily to three areas: Data, Implementation, and Infrastructure with User Studies.

Data

You will work closely with PhD candidates on data curation, particularly on datasets that can serve as gold standards for training and evaluation.

Your responsibilities will include:

Interacting with (geo)data repositories;
Performing semantic annotation;
Improving data quality through data refinement (e.g., correcting mislabelled records);
Constructing and using knowledge graphs;
Transforming data between different representations;
Enriching (meta)data with semantic information;
Collaborating with PhD candidates on the selection, parsing, and representation of questions;
Assisting with the modelling and validation of workflows;
Following open science principles and supporting data management, documentation, and long-term preservation.

Some collaboration with Dutch partner institutions is expected for this part.

Implementation

You will develop data analysis scripts to assess and improve data quality.

Your main responsibilities include:

Collaborating with PhD candidates and the postdoctoral researcher on the representation and generation of workflows that transform (geo)data into answers to user questions;
Exploring hybrid approaches that combine symbolic and sub-symbolic AI methods;
Co-developing a typed language for constructing and querying GIS workflows on the symbolic AI side;
Contributing to post-training LLMs, developing agentic AI systems, and building tools for manual evaluation on the sub-symbolic AI side;
Contributing to the design and selection of metrics for validating and evaluating generated answers.

Familiarity with typed query languages, GIS workflows, high-performance computing (HPC), and agentic AI approaches would be beneficial.

Infrastructure with User Studies

User studies form an important part of the project's evaluation strategy.

Your responsibilities include:

Supporting the deployment of the Q&A infrastructure on available servers;
Developing interfaces for collecting user input and system responses together with PhD candidates;
Collaborating on the analysis and evaluation of collected data;
Ensuring that all collected data are properly anonymised before publication.

Required Qualifications

Ideally, we are looking for a candidate with the following background. Applicants are not expected to possess all of the listed knowledge and skills at the start of the position, provided they demonstrate a willingness to learn and adapt.

A Master's degree (completed or expected by September 2026) in Computer Science, GIScience, Geoinformatics, Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, High-Performance Computing, or a related field;
Interest in learning about geodata analytical workflows, GeoAI, workflow modelling/construction/validation, agent–user interaction, geospatial data analysis, geospatial workflow construction and modelling, (geo)data infrastructures, and GIS software;
Knowledge of, or interest in, (geo)data infrastructures, (geo)data curation, data storage, linked data, open science practices, and web interface design;
Knowledge of, or interest in, formal languages, semantic modelling, ontology engineering, formal logic, knowledge graphs, data annotation, user interaction, and cognitive modelling;
Knowledge of, or interest in, agentic AI, NLP, HPC, LLMs, and machine learning;
Strong programming and software development skills;
Good command of English (Dutch is not required), strong communication skills, and enthusiasm for collaboration in an interdisciplinary and international environment;
Previous research experience is considered an advantage.

Employment Conditions

Utrecht University offers:

A Scientific Engineer position for a period of four years;
A working week of 32–40 hours;
A gross monthly salary between €3,382 and €4,484 for full-time employment (salary scale 8 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
A pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the employment conditions laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University offers various schemes for professional development, leave arrangements, sports, and cultural activities. Employees can also tailor their employment conditions through the Terms of Employment Options Model.

About Utrecht University

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes:

Dynamics of Youth
Institutions for Open Societies
Life Sciences
Pathways to Sustainability

Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man's spatial and material utilisation of the Earth—always with a focus on sustainability and innovation.

The Faculty of Geosciences includes:

3,400 students (BSc and MSc)
720 staff members

The faculty is organised into four departments:

Earth Sciences
Human Geography & Spatial Planning
Physical Geography
Sustainable Development

Contact Information

For more information about the position, please contact:

Simon Scheider
Email: s.scheider@uu.nl

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Diversity and Inclusion

Utrecht University aims to be a home for everyone. The university values staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

A valid Certificate of Conduct (VOG) may be required for this position.

Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology.