Funded PhD Opportunities
Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life PhD Studentships
Seven PhD studentships available for October 2027 entry, based in the Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life at Durham University
The deadline for applications is Monday 11 January 2027 at 4pm
1. Key Information
- Seven studentships are available for Autumn 2027 entry: four studentships are funded through our Leverhulme Trust Centre grant; three are funded through our AHRC doctoral focal award.
- Applications are welcomed from across all disciplines – projects should focus on the interdisciplinary study of algorithmic life and be aligned with one of our four thematic programmes.
- All studentships cover UK home fees and full stipend at UKRI rates. We welcome applications from international students and will fund the ‘fee gap’ for successful international applicants, but we are strictly limited in the number of international students we are able to support (see FAQ below).
- Studentships are a minimum of 3.5 years (full-time or part-time equivalent), with the possibility to extend to 4 years where additional methodological training is required or a placement is undertaken.
- All students will receive expert supervision drawn from across the interdisciplinary LCAL team, individual and cohort-based training and development opportunities, as well as access to funds to support placements, collaborative activities, workshops, conferences, and summer schools.
- There are two specific pre-designed projects proposed by LCAL staff, more information on these is available at the bottom of this page.
2. The Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life
The extraordinarily rapid rise of algorithmic technologies is witnessing a seismic shift in how the lives of humans are complexly interwoven with novel machine paradigms of knowledge and action. Across many spheres of life – from decisions on welfare or immigration to judgements about healthcare – the futures of people and societies are becoming intimately connected to the patterns and attributes that algorithms have learned from data.
The Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life will transform how we understand and study the relationship between human life and machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms. Algorithmic life involves an emerging cultural, social, and technological way of knowing and engaging with the world, a paradigm whose form and consequences are not yet well understood.
Two overarching fundamental questions underpin the Centre’s research: What are the novel paradigms of knowledge, perception, and action that emerge with contemporary algorithmic technologies? How do ideas and concepts of what it means to be human transform and adapt in collaboration with the different life-worlds of algorithms?
The Centre comprises members of staff from all four Durham faculties and is directed by Prof Louise Amoore.
3. Studying for a PhD at the Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life
We welcome applications from those with research interests in the broad field of algorithmic life and are particularly eager to hear from applicants with ambitions to develop their disciplinary expertise through interdisciplinary collaboration across the social sciences, humanities, and sciences. For example, you might be a computer scientist working on machine learning and with interests in how the concept of inference is changing both technically and socially; or you may be a sociologist whose work on algorithmic social systems opens up philosophical questions of ethics; or you may be a humanities student who is driven to study how the nature of human language is changing with machine learning technologies.
Our interdisciplinary PhD studentships offer exciting opportunities to study as part of a larger scholarly community in The Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life, whilst providing excellent career development through specialist training, and engagement with our partners in academia, industry, and the charitable and arts sectors. You will be supervised by an experienced team of academics drawn from our expertise across disciplines. Each PhD project should align with one of our four thematic programmes.
4. Studying for a PhD at Durham University
As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to study for a PhD. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people’s lives.
We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it’s also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community.
Our research postgraduates are a major part of our community. We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all.
5. How to apply
Applicants are required to submit:
- A summary CV (maximum 2 pages of A4).
- A short cover letter which details your academic background and experience and explains why you wish to study for a PhD at the Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life (maximum 500 words).
- A PhD proposal (maximum 2000 words) detailing the theory, concepts, and methods of your proposed doctoral research. This should also clearly explain how your research will contribute to one of the four thematic programmes of the Centre: generativity; image and language; synthetic worlds; and being human. Though you may briefly indicate contributions to more than one thematic programme, please focus on one primary thematic programme.
- The degree transcript for your most recent/current degree.
These documents should be submitted by email to [email protected] no later than 4pm on Monday 11 January 2027. Please include in your email:
- Your fee status
- Your Durham application number (if available at this stage, see below)
- Your identified first supervisor (if available at this stage, see below)
6. Additional application guidance
- If you have already applied to a PhD programme at one of the Durham departments, please explain this in your application email, providing your Durham application number and the name of the proposed supervisor. (Please note that it is not a requirement to have already applied to a Durham department and LCAL will support shortlisted candidates with this process if required).
- Whilst it is not a requirement for you to have already identified potential supervisors, it is advisable to contact us ahead of submitting your application to begin this conversation and ensure we have an appropriate supervisory team for your project. We recommend that you work with a prospective supervisor to finalise your studentship application.
- Any questions not covered in this guidance should be directed to [email protected]
7. FAQs
What is the difference between the AHRC and Leverhulme funded PhD studentships?
- The three studentships funded by our AHRC doctoral focal awards are ring-fenced for lead supervision in the disciplines of the arts and humanities, with co-supervision in social sciences or sciences. The AHRC studentships are fully integrated into the Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life and have equal access to training and resources within the Centre’s cohort.
- Applicants do not need to indicate which funding scheme they are applying to, as projects which would be eligible will automatically be considered for both funding schemes.
I have already applied for / been offered a place on a PhD at Durham University. Can I apply for an LCAL studentship?
- Yes! If you have already applied for / been offered a place on a PhD for Autumn 2027 entry at Durham University, in a topic area that is a strong match to an LCAL thematic programme, then you are very welcome to apply for an LCAL studentship. Please explain this in your application email, providing your Durham application number and the name of the proposed supervisor.
- We would strongly encourage you to work with your prospective supervisor to prepare your studentship application.
- We are not able to accept applications from current students who have already begun their PhD studies.
I am an international student, can I apply for an LCAL studentship?
- We welcome applications from the most highly qualified international students and will fund the ‘fee gap’ for any successful international applicants, but we are very strictly limited in the number of international students we will be able to support. Therefore, we do wish to advise international students that we expect competition for these places to be extremely high.
Two specific studentships have been proposed by LCAL staff. If you wish to apply to one of the studentships, please specify this in your application, along with your suitability for the specific project. Full details of these projects are available in the links below:
— Algorithmic translation and the remaking of meaning across languages
Timetable for 2027 applicants:
- End of October 2026 – studentships be advertised and full application documentation available
- Early January 2027 – deadline for receipt of applications (to include a project proposal)
- February / early March 2027 – interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held (can be held over Teams for candidates not currently based in Durham)
- 25 March 2027 – offers will be made by this date
- October 2027 – PhDs start.
For further information, please contact [email protected].