Data2Action: is the MSCA Doctoral Training Network programme uniting social innovation with data science & AI for common good. Data2Action exists to make emerging technology work harder for humanity, enabling us to co-create a healthier, fairer and more sustainable world for all.

Read more about Data2Action here

Doctoral Candidate Research Project

The main objective of the research project of the doctoral candidate is to explore how advanced large language models (LLMs) and generative AI technologies can effectively scale the impact of best practices in social innovation. The aim is to identify and evaluate authoritative sources documenting successful social innovation practices and define key categories and concepts relevant to social innovation organisations. These data will be extracted, structured, and organised into a structured knowledge base using LLMs. The conversational AI tools resulting from this should enable social innovators to gain easy access to insights from peer experiences.

To achieve this, the fellow will:

1) Conduct desk research and actively engage with a network of social innovation organizations to identify reliable sources documenting effective social innovation practices (e.g., Social Innovation Atlas, EU Social Innovation Match, openGRAPH).

2) Employ qualitative methods (interviews, focus groups) and quantitative methods (surveys) to determine key information categories of practical relevance to social innovators, organizing these into a structured ontology.

3) Develop methods for extracting and structuring information from identified sources using text embedding techniques (e.g., embeddings, vector databases such as Pinecone) and annotation methods using large language models (e.g., the Mistral family models adapted with low-rank techniques). Particular attention will be paid to issues of bias, equity, diversity and security in the content of sources and development of the knowledge base.

4) Implement and validate a conversational AI interface, leveraging advanced search methods (e.g., FAISS) combined with large language models, to provide intuitive interaction with the knowledge base. This tool will be tested in other projects in the doctoral network.

Additionally, the doctoral candidate will complete two secondments at partner organizations: one at Shipyard Foundation to get insight into the social innovation process and another at KnowledgeBiz to deepen expertise in large language model and generative AI.

The Doctoral Candidate will be expected to:

• Report on findings by publishing scientific articles, resulting in a PhD dissertation;
• Present findings at (inter)national meetings/conferences;
• Contribute to the wider work of the Data2Action project
• Contribute to educational activities of the department and within the consortium.

Requirements

Essential:

• Eligible applicants must possess or be finalising a Master’s degree or an equivalent degree in a relevant discipline for Data2Action, especially computer science, artificial intelligence, ICT engineering, and digital humanities.
• Excellent English language proficiency
• Competencies: Open-minded, self-aware, collaborative, critical thinker, team player, strong communicator.
• High interest in the topic of social innovation as the key concept of the PhD project.
• Applicants must be available full-time to start the program in September 2025.

Desirable:

• Prior experience in natural language processing or machine learning or programming
• Prior experience in academic writing or scientific publications
• Prior practical or research experience with social innovation and/or the public sector and/or artificial intelligence

Eligibility Conditions:

• Applicants do not already hold a doctoral degree.
• Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of recruitment for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
• Applicant must be eligible for a working visa in the UK

Application Deadline:

Sunday 18th May 2025

We Offer:

The MSCA programme offers competitive and attractive working conditions. You will have an employment contract from the recruiting beneficiary. You will benefit from a competitive salary, annual leave, social security coverage. For more information see EU MSCA website .

Selection process

Our selection procedure is open, transparent, merit-based, impartial, and equitable, in line with the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers ( link ).

Additional Comments

For more information about this position, you can contact Prof Mitja Luštrek.

We are hosting two information sessions on Tuesday 29th April 2025, for those interested in applying for a PhD fellow position with Data2Action. The session will start with a 15-minute presentation and then there will be a Q&A. We are running two sessions to ensure maximum global reach. Both sessions will be the same, so you should only attend one. Sign up here:

Tuesday 29th April 2025, 10am UK time – sign up here

Tuesday 29th April 2025, 6pm UK time - sign up here