Adopting Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Building Supply Chain Resilience - Fully Funded PhD Cranfield University in United Kingdom

This fully funded PhD studentship at Cranfield University, sponsored by the Cranfield School of Management, offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and supply chain management. The project focuses on the adoption of agentic AI to enhance supply chain resilience, addressing the growing need for intelligent systems that can anticipate disruptions, coordinate responses, and support recovery while balancing cost, service, and sustainability goals.

The research will follow a PhD-by-papers route, aiming to deliver three high-quality scholarly outputs and develop actionable insights for supply chain management practice. The project is situated within the Centre for Logistics, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, renowned for its international reputation in advanced teaching and research across digital supply chains, decision support systems, sustainability, and resilience.

Global supply chains face unprecedented challenges from multiple disruptions, making resilience a critical area of study. This PhD will empirically validate a theory-driven framework demonstrating how agentic AI capabilities—such as sensing, planning, negotiation, and coordinated action—can strengthen resilience across various phases of supply chain disruption. The research is expected to generate both theoretical and practical impact, providing a roadmap for organisations seeking to deploy agentic AI in supply chains and supporting sustainability objectives.

The successful candidate will benefit from Cranfield’s specialist postgraduate environment, including doctoral training, masterclasses, seminars, publishing support, and conference participation. There will also be opportunities to engage with practitioners through thought-leadership activities, enhancing employability in academia, consulting, leadership, and policy-oriented roles within supply chain management.

Funding for this three-year project includes a tax-free bursary of up to £20,780 plus fees, available to both Home and Overseas fee status students. Entry requirements include a first- or second-class UK degree or equivalent in a related discipline, such as supply chain, logistics and operations management, business analytics, Artificial Intelligence, computer science, or a related field. Candidates with an interest in AI, digital innovation, and resilience, as well as strong analytical, communication, and independent research skills, are encouraged to apply. A Master's degree in a relevant subject is advantageous, and applicants must meet Cranfield's English language requirements where applicable.

Applications are reviewed as they are received, so early submission is recommended. For further information, contact Dr Abhijeet Ghadge at [email protected]. Eligible candidates should complete the online application form via the provided link.