[100% fees covered and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate). Additional project costs provided.] PhD Studentship: Teaching Intelligent Agents to See, Think and Act with Vision and Language Newcastle University invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship focused on developing intelligent agents that integrate vision, language, and action. This project aims to revolutionise how robots and intelligent systems perceive, reason, and act in dynamic environments, moving beyond traditional rule-based approaches. By leveraging vision-language-action (VLA) models, the research will enable robots to interpret natural language instructions, perceive their surroundings, and generate appropriate actions, fostering adaptability and human-like understanding. The successful candidate will work on training VLA models using simulated datasets to learn general behaviours, followed by fine-tuning for specific tasks. The project is designed to bridge the gap between perception, reasoning, and action in autonomous systems, with potential applications in robotics, AI, and cognitive science. The research is supervised by Dr Shidong Wang and Professor Nick Wright, both experienced in intelligent systems and machine learning. Funding and Duration: The studentship covers 100% of tuition fees and provides a tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate), with additional project costs supported. The award is for 4 years, starting 1st October 2026, and is sponsored by EPSRC. Eligibility: Applicants should hold at least a 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant subject. The admissions process is contextual, considering key competencies and experience alongside academic qualifications. Strong analytical, verbal, and written communication skills are essential. A Masters degree is not required if you have a 2:1 or equivalent, or can demonstrate relevant experience. Non-native English speakers require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all sub-skills). International applicants may need an ATAS certificate. Application Process: Applications should be submitted via the Newcastle University Postgraduate Funding Search portal. For further information or to discuss eligibility, contact Dr Shidong Wang ([email protected]) or the doctoral awards team ([email protected]). This opportunity is ideal for candidates passionate about AI, robotics, and the intersection of vision and language, seeking to contribute to cutting-edge research in intelligent systems at a leading UK institution.