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Fully Funded PhD in Sociology of Brain-Computer Interfaces, Neurotechnology, and AI at University College Dublin University College Dublin in Ireland
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Fully funded PhD for 4 years under ERC and UCD regulations, with a €30,000 tax-free stipend per annum and waived tuition fees. Funding also includes conference participation and/or research training/professional development, plus opportunities for international fieldwork and research visits in Europe and the United States.
Deadline
Oct 7, 2026
Country
Ireland
University
University College Dublin
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About this position
University College Dublin’s School of Sociology is advertising a fully funded PhD position within the ERC Starting Grant project From Human Capital to Intelligence Management: Data-driven Economy and Brain-Computer Interfaces (IMR), led by Associate Professor Edemilson Paraná.
The project sits at the intersection of sociology, science and technology studies (STS), digital sociology, political economy, computational neuroscience, neurotechnology, and artificial intelligence. The doctoral researcher will study the sociological production of intelligence in brain research and brain-computer interface ecosystems, with a specific focus on the US BRAIN Initiative and the EU Human Brain Project.
The successful candidate will develop an original article-based dissertation within the ERC project’s framework. The research may involve documentary and archival research, qualitative analysis of scientific publications and policy documents, semi-structured interviews, and comparative fieldwork in Europe and the United States. The post is especially suited to applicants interested in how scientific knowledge, technological innovation, public policy, and the neurotechnology industry co-produce new forms of data extraction, governance, and workforce management.
Funding: 4 years of PhD support, a €30,000 tax-free annual stipend, and waived tuition fees. The position also includes support for conference participation, research training, and possible international fieldwork or research visits.
Eligibility: Applicants should hold a degree in Sociology or a closely related social science field such as Anthropology or Political Economy. Strong qualitative research skills, excellent English (CEFR C1), and the ability to work independently and collaboratively are emphasized. Experience with NVivo/MAXQDA/ATLAS.ti, discourse analysis, computational text analysis, or prior work on AI, neuroscience, or innovation policy is an advantage.
How to apply: Send a cover letter, CV, research statement, writing sample, certified transcripts and degree certificates, and two academic reference letters by email to [email protected]. Informal enquiries can be directed to [email protected]. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a closing date of 7 October 2026.
Location: UCD School of Sociology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Funding details
Fully funded PhD for 4 years under ERC and UCD regulations, with a €30,000 tax-free stipend per annum and waived tuition fees. Funding also includes conference participation and/or research training/professional development, plus opportunities for international fieldwork and research visits in Europe and the United States.
What's required
Applicants should hold a degree in Sociology or a closely related discipline, including Anthropology, Political Economy, or other relevant social science fields. Strong interests in Science and Technology Studies, sociology of science and scientific knowledge, sociology of expertise, innovation and research infrastructures, computational neuroscience and neurotechnology, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, digital sociology, and qualitative or mixed-methods research are preferred. Candidates should demonstrate excellent qualitative research skills, especially document analysis, interviewing, and ethnographical observation; excellent written and spoken English at CEFR Level C1; the ability to work independently and collaboratively; strong organisational, communication, and project management skills; and enthusiasm for comparative and international research. Experience with qualitative data analysis software, digital or computational text analysis, discourse analysis, prior research on AI/neuroscience/emerging technologies/innovation policy, or previous publications is advantageous but not essential.
How to apply
Email the required application documents to [email protected]. Include a cover letter, CV, research statement, writing sample, certified transcripts and degree certificates, and two academic reference letters. Informal queries can be sent to [email protected].
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