ABOUT THIS POSITION

Conflicts and criminal/subversive activities around the world pose direct or indirect threats to the Netherlands. For our current and future security, TNO conducts research together with our security partners into the effective use of data, information, and intelligence to support optimal decision-making in complex situations. As a scientist, you contribute to designing and conducting innovative research and apply your knowledge of intelligence and decision-making. Concrete examples include research into hybrid warfare, tackling subversive crime, new operational approaches, and analyzing crisis situations. In this role, you will work within the research group Intelligence & Decision Support (IDS), part of the Defence, Safety & Security unit. Want to contribute to shaping our time as a Scientist in Information Operations & Intelligence? Read on!

As a scientist, you will participate in research projects with partners in the defense and security domain, such as the Ministry of Defence, the Police, and other organizations. In multidisciplinary teams, you will work on research questions that are more relevant than ever. In addition to building new knowledge, practical application is key. You will collect and analyze data and information (both quantitative and qualitative), develop and test concepts and models, and translate results into the operational world of the client. To do this, you will integrate the latest insights from various research disciplines—such as political science, public administration, econometrics, AI, and data science—to develop new models and concepts. These will be tested and validated in collaboration with Defence and other security organizations.
Examples of questions you might work on include: How can defense and security organizations detect and respond to manipulation of the information environment (e.g., disinformation and deepfakes)? What techniques can be used for this? How does intelligence contribute to effective action in today’s digital world? What innovative techniques are needed to accelerate the intelligence function and anticipate changes in time? How does decision-making work in the information environment? How do you monitor and measure effects in the information environment? You will be able to develop tailored approaches to such questions. To carry out your work, you will engage with various stakeholders and TNO experts. You will gather the necessary information through interviews, specially designed workshops, or (operational or synthetic) datasets. You can translate client challenges into practical, feasible, and impactful solutions.
All of this is done in collaboration with knowledgeable and highly motivated colleagues from the IDS department and various other departments within TNO. IDS is diverse, regularly organizes activities to exchange knowledge and experiences, and of course, to have fun both in and outside of work.