PhD topics for research students

Find below a list of currently available self-funded PhD topics.

Follow us on Twitter for latest topics
Check out fees and funding

We encourage all students to contact the supervisor or the alternative contact person for more information and an informal chat to discuss the process of applying and preparing your research statement. For more information on how to apply click here.

Description
Supervisor
Funding
Many Paths to Sustainability: Understanding the Diversity of Sustainability Management Practices
Firms often face similar sustainability pressures, yet they adopt very different combinations of practices. Some focus on emissions, others on suppliers, employee wellbeing, reporting, compliance or ...
Ramin Behbehani
Self-Funded
Managing with Contradictions: Paradoxes in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management
Organisations aiming to improve sustainability in their operations and supply chains often face tensions that can’t be neatly resolved. They may want to reduce environmental impact while keeping costs...
Ramin Behbehani
Self-Funded
Human Judgment in the Age of AI: Trust, Control and Decision-Making in Supply Chains
AI and analytics are becoming increasingly influential in forecasting, procurement, inventory management, logistics and risk monitoring. But supply chain decisions are rarely made by algorithms alone...
Ramin Behbehani
Self-Funded
Beyond Compliance: Managerial Cognition and the Strategic Framing of Sustainability in Operations and Supply Chain Management
As sustainability becomes a more pressing concern for organisations, firms are under growing pressure to respond to environmental and social challenges in clear and visible ways. But their responses v...
Ramin Behbehani
Self-Funded
Comparative Health Policy Analysis: Tackling the Economic Burden of Aging Populations and Chronic Diseases
The global rise in aging populations and chronic diseases poses unprecedented economic and healthcare challenges. This PhD project conducts a cross-national comparison of health policies to evaluate t...
Catia Nicodemo
Self Funded
Artificial Intelligence, International Trade, and Economic Competitiveness
We are offering a self-funded PhD position with the Brunel Business School, focusing on quantum-enhanced smart data governance. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If you have any questions ...
Asieh Hosseini Tabaghdehi
Self Funded
AI-driven heritage preservation and management
We are offering a self-funded PhD position with the Brunel Business School, focusing on exploring the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in preserving cultural heritage. Applications are accepted on...
Asieh Hosseini Tabaghdehi
Self Funded
AI and data-driven strategies for decarbonisation in healthcare management
We are offering a self-funded PhD position with the Brunel Business School, focusing on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to drive decarbonisation efforts within healt...
Asieh Hosseini Tabaghdehi
Self Funded
Adoption of Emerging Technologies and Regulatory Impacts on Innovation in Emerging Markets
This doctoral project will investigate the adoption and impact of emerging technologies—specifically blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI)—in emerging markets, focusing on how regulatory environ...
Rebecca Li
Self Funded
AI Companionship and the Future of Human Connection
The “AI Futures: Companionship, Connection, and Careers” project investigates how artificial intelligence—particularly in the form of companion technologies—is reshaping emotional, social, and profess...
Ming-Yao Jen
Self Funded