School: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Reference Number: PA-2025-3788
Type of Employment: Full-time, Temporary
Salary: Monthly salary according to KTH’s doctoral student salary agreement
Closing Date: 7 January 2026
Third-cycle subject: Human-Computer Interaction
KTH is seeking a motivated PhD student to join a research project addressing the urgent challenge of declining reading proficiency among young learners in Sweden. The project aims to design, implement, and evaluate human-centered AI support for improved reading instruction, where AI assists both teachers and students in primary education.
As a PhD student, you will:
Develop and investigate human-centered AI support for teachers and children’s reading development.
Engage in co-design activities with teachers and students.
Analyze the effects of AI-based reading training.
Develop theoretical and practical frameworks for responsible AI integration in education.
You will work in an interdisciplinary environment spanning human-computer interaction, intelligent tutoring systems, learning analytics, and education, in close collaboration with Swedish and international researchers, schools, and technology developers.
To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), applicants must meet basic eligibility:
Completed a second-cycle degree (e.g., Master’s) or
Completed at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 second-cycle credits or
Acquired substantially equivalent knowledge elsewhere.
Language Requirement: English proficiency equivalent to English B/6 is mandatory.
Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to:
Independently pursue research work.
Collaborate effectively with others.
Maintain a professional approach to research.
Analyze and work with complex issues.
Emphasis will also be placed on personal skills during selection.
Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student.
Full-time doctoral education corresponds to four years, with a new position initially for one year, renewable up to a maximum of two years at a time.
For licentiate studies, employment may be up to two years.
Doctoral students may perform certain tasks (e.g., teaching or administration) up to 20% of their work time.
You will receive monthly salary and employee benefits according to KTH’s Doctoral Student Salary Agreement.
Applications must include:
CV with relevant professional experience.
Application letter (max 2 pages) describing research interests, relation to previous studies, and future goals.
Copies of diplomas and grades from previous studies and proof of language proficiency (certified and translated if not in English/Swedish).
Representative publications or technical reports (with abstracts and links if full text is long).
Submission: Apply via KTH’s recruitment system before midnight CET/CEST on 7 January 2026.
Some positions may require a security clearance under the Protective Security Act (2018:585).
KTH does not accept contact from recruitment agencies.
Swedish version of the announcement takes precedence in case of discrepancies.
Primary Supervisors: Olga Viberg & Olov Engwall
Contact: Olga Viberg, oviberg@kth.se, +46 703 458 683
KTH shapes the future through education, research, and innovation. As a leading international technical university, it promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in all activities. KTH offers a creative and dynamic work environment, attractive benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.
Learn more about benefits and working at KTH: KTH Careers