Responsible artificial intelligence for small and medium enterprises in the Global South

We are offering a self-funded PhD position in responsible AI development with the Department of Computer Science. The project focuses on responsible artificial intelligence for small and medium enterprises in the Global South.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

If you have any questions about the project or would like to arrange an informal discussion, please reach out to Dr. Steven Sam at steven.sam@brunel.ac.uk.

The project

Our research focuses on developing responsible AI solutions tailored for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Global South.

AI is seen as a transformative tool to help SMEs overcome challenges related to low productivity and cost-effective service delivery.

At the same time, AI deployment introduces ethical challenges and risks.

Currently, there is limited evidence on how to fully harness AI’s benefits while managing these risks. As a result, AI adoption among SMEs remains low, and investments in policies and resources for AI implementation receive minimal political priority.

This project addresses critical challenges in AI adoption by adopting a participatory, human rights-centred approach, working collaboratively with stakeholders to develop new methods, legal frameworks, and innovative toolkits for responsible AI development tailored to SMEs in the Global South

As a postgraduate researcher, you will:

Engage in participatory, human rights-centred research.
Develop skills in AI, ethics, and legal frameworks.
Collaborate with leading experts in the field.
Publish your findings in top-tier journals.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:

Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you would be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
Click on the 'Apply here' button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.

Good luck!

This is a self funded topic

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Steven Sam - Dr Steven Sam (PhD, FHEA) is an academic and researcher, focusing on computing for social good, data ethics and responsible AI, ICTs in society and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). He earned his PhD from the University of Queensland (Australia), receiving the UQ Outstanding Higher Degree by Research Theses Dean’s Award in 2016. As the founder and co-leader of Computer Science for Social Good, he has led an interdisciplinary team dedicated to addressing societal challenges through research, innovation, and capacity-building. His work centres on advancing social and context-aware technology that addresses real-world issues and enhances positive societal impact. Steven has collaborated with academic institutions, industry partners, development agencies, and government bodies on innovative research projects in healthcare, agriculture, food systems and education particularly in Africa. In addition to his academic role, Steven is an experienced consultant, guiding organisations in the ethical design and deployment of responsible AI and data-driven technologies. His expertise spans ethical assessments, risk mitigation, compliance and regulation, responsible design, policy development and stakeholder training. He combines theory, practical experience and human-centred approaches to help clients create AI and data strategies that drive innovation, respect public trust and protect individual rights, guiding organisations through the ethical challenges of new technologies.

Related Research Group(s)

Computer Science for Social Good - Our group works with partners in the Global South to lead and promote interdisciplinary research in the field of computer science and social good. We focus on investigating and developing new ways and innovative technologies to address challenging socio-economic problems.