Cradle_Site_Favicon
BUas-Logo_White

(Graduation) Internship – Interactions with Virtual Humans

- Vacancy-

(Graduation) Internship – Interactions with Virtual Humans (Negotiable)

Posted on December 15, 2025

Start Date: 02/02/2026

Duration: Negotiable

FTE: 1

Apply
Join our cutting-edge research and development team as a research intern and immerse yourself in the world of virtual humans! This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on and research experience in the rapidly evolving, multidisciplinary field of real human – virtual human interaction and contribute to the creation and experimentation with virtual humans. This is a relatively flexible opportunity which can be co-shaped with the student and can be a thesis assignment.

About Cradle

Cradle is the Research & Development lab of the Academy for AI, Games & Media at Breda University of Applied Sciences. At this lab, cutting-edge, innovative games and media applications are designed and developed through projects conducted on behalf of and befitting four professorships: Digital Media Concepts; Creative & Entertainment Games; Serious Games, Innovation & Society; and Applied Data Science & Artificial Intelligence. Most of the projects at Cradle involve external partners and are funded by secondary (e.g. national or EU research grants) and tertiary sources (project-based contracts). Cradle has its own staff pool of experienced, tech-savvy researchers, lecturers, designers, and developers. It also offers internships, individual graduation projects, collaborative team projects, as well as support, facilities, and equipment to students, staff, and partners.

Example responsibilities

You will support the teams working on several major Virtual Human projects, including RegioDeal, VHESPER, and DIGIREAL. Your exact responsibilities will depend on your background, skill set, and personal interests. Examples include:

  • Collaborate with researchers, developers, partners, and students involved in the research projects.
  • Conduct the Delphi study “The Future of Virtual Humans: A Delphi Study on the Emerging Trends and Implications” with experts from Southeast Asia.
  • Conduct behavioural experiments where participants interact with virtual humans presenting different types of (profound) emotions. Collect and analyse data from the experiments. Contribute to the writing of scientific publications reporting on the results from the experimental studies.
  • Opportunities to attend and assist at digital realities events and present research findings.

What we offer?

  • A financial compensation.
  • A chance to be at the forefront of virtual human research and network building.
  • Multiple projects with opportunities to manage research initiatives and introduce your own ideas.
  • Support from BUas developers and researchers involved in the projects, providing mentorship and guidance.
  • An exciting workplace at the BUas campus with high-end hard- and software.
  • The opportunity to produce publishable academic work or a thesis-level deliverable as part of your internship.

Qualification requirements

  • You must receive ECTS for doing an internship or a thesis project as part of your study programme.
  • You are enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s programme (WO, HBO, or equivalent).
  • Preferred backgrounds include, but are not limited to: Psychology, Sociology, Data Science, Cognitive Science, Artificial Intelligence, Human–Computer Interaction, Game & Media Technology, or related fields.
  • Strong interest in research and innovations (virtual humans).
  • Skills in data analysis and collection (quantitative and qualitative).
  • You are available to do your placement from February/March 2026 onward. Start/end date is negotiable.
  • Enthusiastic about working with data, collaborating with researchers, and engaging with externals.

Bonus skills

  • Native Chinese language proficiency.
  • Familiarity with the Delphi research method.

How to apply?

Interested or do you have any questions? Please send your CV and short motivation to Ekaterina Uzunova (uzunova.e@buas.nl). The deadline for applying is 20 January 2026.

About our virtual human projects