This fully funded PhD opportunity at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) invites applications for research on an LLM-Based Framework for Automated Security and Data Integrity Assessment of Heterogeneous Consumer Wearables in Healthcare Remote Monitoring. The position is based in the College of Arts, Technology and Environment and is part of UWE Cyber, an NCSC-certified Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education, as well as the Computer Science Research Centre and the School of Computing and Creative Technologies.

The project addresses the challenge of assessing security and data integrity in consumer wearables used for clinical remote monitoring. These devices, produced by multiple manufacturers, create complex ecosystems lacking standardized security frameworks. Current methods focus on individual devices and fail to scale or capture cumulative risks, making it difficult to distinguish between malicious manipulation, manufacturer-specific variations, and device malfunctions. Manual assessment is not feasible for rapidly evolving device landscapes.

This research aims to leverage large language models (LLMs) to automate and scale security and data integrity assessments across multi-vendor wearable ecosystems. The goal is to translate technical vulnerabilities into clinically meaningful risk metrics, supporting safer healthcare deployment. The project is led by Dr Faiza Medjek, in collaboration with Professor Richard Luxton and Dr David Western, and is embedded within a vibrant research group active in cyber security topics such as cloud, IoT, container-based security, AI for security, digital forensics, and cyber situational awareness.

Successful candidates will join a multidisciplinary team working with industry and government stakeholders, contributing to national and international networks and addressing key areas within the Cyber Security Body of Knowledge (CyBOK). The studentship is available from 1 October 2026 for three and a half years, subject to satisfactory progress. It includes a tax-exempt stipend (£20,780 per annum for 2025/26) and covers full-time tuition fees for up to three years (Home students). The position is open to both Home and International applicants.

Applicants must hold an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification in Cyber Security, Computer Science, or a closely related discipline. Strong written and spoken communication skills and strong programming skills are essential. A recognised English language qualification is required. The application process involves submitting a covering letter (up to 2 pages), a research proposal (up to 4 pages), a current CV, degree certificates and transcripts, and details of two referees. The closing date for applications is 12 April 2026, with interviews expected to take place in early May 2026.

For project-specific queries, contact Dr Faiza Medjek at [email protected]. For general queries, contact Professor Phil Legg at [email protected]. Further details and the application portal can be found at the provided FindAPhD link.