PhD studentships - UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Designing Responsible Natural Language Processing

About the CDT

The UKRI AI Centre of Doctoral Training in Designing Responsible NLP is dedicated to addressing the increasing necessity for an ethically grounded approach in AI technologies. As NLP becomes more integral to applications like personal assistants (Siri, Alexa), chatbots (such as ChatGPT), and generative AI, the stakes are higher than ever. Ensuring these systems are responsibly integrated into our daily lives requires a deep understanding of their operational mechanisms and societal impacts.

Doctoral students of the centre will engage in an interdisciplinary educational experience that spans the technical, social, design, and legal domains of AI. The curriculum fosters understanding across these diverse fields, emphasizing collaboration and the development of hybrid expertise. This is your opportunity to contribute to building AI systems that are not only advanced but are also equitable, sustainable, and sensitive to the complex social fabrics they operate within.

Skills Domains

During their studies students will train across five skills domains.

Responsible NLP data and models

Students will develop techniques for building and curating inclusive and diverse datasets, as well as practices leading to fairer and less biased models.

Explainable NLP for users in-the-world

Students will be trained in techniques that enable end-users to examine datasets and models, using NLP-based techniques to provide human-readable explanations of datasets and AI models.

Designing for Human-NLP partnership

Students will use new human-centred methods to create adaptable human-AI partnership systems (e.g., human-in-the-loop, human-NLP teams).

NLP governance and accountability

Responsibly deploying NLP requires understanding the intersect with current (IPR, GDPR, Equalities, Copyright) and emerging (EU AI) laws and governance.

Co-creation and NLP futures

Students will develop new design methods that enable diverse members of society to shape the technical and design decisions surrounding future applications of NLP.

Candidate profile

An ideal candidate would typically be

• A graduate with a strong degree in a relevant field (computer science, linguistics, design, HCI, law, or a related field). Applications from industry professionals looking to transition into academia are welcome.
• Interested in advanced AI technologies, engaged with academic and professional organisations in AI and NLP seeking advanced education opportunities, looking for innovative research programs, and motivated a career in academia and industry.

Why Edinburgh?

The University of Edinburgh has provided its students with world-class teaching for more than 425 years.

The School of Informatics that hosts the CDT is consistently ranked among the world’s top 30 computer science departments. In 2024 QS World University Ranking by Subject, it is ranked 20th for Computer Science and Information System, and 21st for Data Science and AI.

Edinburgh graduates are ranked 24th in the world by employers according to QS World University Rankings 2025.

Ranked 13th in the world’s top student cities in the QS Student Cities ranking (2025), Edinburgh is a modern, sophisticated, and beautiful European city with a diverse, multicultural community.

How to apply

Our process has 2 stages:

• First stage, for all interested applicants, with submissions by 30th November 2026
• Second stage, only for invited applicants (upon receipt of link to EUCLID, the University of Edinburgh portal), with applications to be submitted by 22nd January 2027 (23:59 UK)

All candidates are strongly recommended to attend the webinars and virtual Open Days, advertised on our website Applicant Webinars – Designing Responsible Natural Language Processing and LinkedIn platform (8) Designing Responsible Natural Language Processing: Overview | LinkedIn

Any further questions should be directed to: responsiblenlp@ed.ac.uk