AI-powered inclusive design for enhancing chronic disease management

We are recruiting new doctoral researchers to our EPSRC-funded Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) PhD studentships starting 1 October 2025.

Applications are invited for the project: AI-powered inclusive design for enhancing chronic disease management.

Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend (bursary) of approximately £21,237, including inner London weighting, plus payment of their full-time home tuition fees for a period of 42 months (3.5 years).

You should be eligible for home (UK) tuition fees there are a very limited number (no more than two) studentships available to overseas applicants, including EU nationals, who meet the academic entry criteria including English Language proficiency.

You will join the internationally recognised researchers in the Department of Brunel Design School research and PhD programmes | Brunel University London.

The project

This PhD topic aims to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) impacts the inclusive design process, particularly in the context of managing chronic diseases, and how to maximise its benefits.

A mixed methods approach is expected: quantitative data analysis for systematic literature review, qualitative insights from user interviews and case studies, and data visualisation to identify the AI impact on the existing inclusive design process.

Please contact Professor Hua Dong (hua.dong@brunel.ac.uk) for an informal discussion about the studentships.

Eligibility

Applicants will have or be expected to receive a first or upper-second-class honours degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Design, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or a similar discipline. A postgraduate master's degree is not required but may be an advantage.

Skills and experience

Applicants will be required to demonstrate the following skills;

  • Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, to be demonstrated by published work
  • Knowledge of at least two of the following areas: AI, inclusive design, healthcare

You should be highly motivated, able to work independently as well as in a team, collaborate with others and have good communication skills.

 

How to apply

There are two stages of the application:

1. Applicants must submit the pre-application form via the following link:

https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/brunel/epsrc-dla-25-26-pre-application-form-brunel-university-of-londo

by 4 pm on Friday 17 January 2025.

2. If you are shortlisted for the interview, you will be asked to email the following documentation in a single PDF file to cedps-studentships@brunel.ac.uk within 72 hours.

  • Your up-to-date CV
  • Your undergraduate degree certificate(s) and transcript(s) first or upper-second class honours degree essential
  • Your postgraduate master's degree certificate(s) and transcript(s) if applicable
  • Your valid English Language qualification of IELTS 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in each section) or equivalent, if applicable; this must be valid up to 31 October 2025
  • Contact details for TWO referees, one of which can be an academic member of staff in the College

Applicants should therefore ensure that they have all of this information in case they are shortlisted.

Interviews will take place on 13 and 14 February 2025. For shortlisted international/EU applicants’ interviews will be via Microsoft Teams and for UK applicants’ interviews will be in person at the Brunel University of London campus.