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University of Southampton

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PhD in Secure and Trustworthy AI for Autonomous Vehicle Ecosystems University of Southampton in United Kingdom

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

This is an IDLA EPSRC studentship with an industrial partner. It is fully funded, including tuition fees and an enhanced stipend above the UKRI minimum, plus a generous allowance for travel, equipment, and laboratory consumables. An industrial placement with a global automotive manufacturer is also offered.

Deadline

Oct 27, 2026

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Country

United Kingdom

University

University of Southampton

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Keywords

Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Information Technology
Artificial Intelligence
Cybersecurity
Robotics
Autonomous Vehicle
ML

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About this position

PhD opportunity at the University of Southampton in Secure and Trustworthy AI for Autonomous Vehicle Ecosystems.

This project sits in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences and is supervised by Dr Erisa Karafili. The research focuses on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, threat modelling, and autonomous vehicles. You will investigate AI-enhanced threat-modelling techniques to improve the resilience of autonomous vehicle ecosystems, including vulnerabilities in AI-driven sensing and decision systems, adversarial interactions, data poisoning, sensor manipulation, model interference, and adaptive detection/mitigation strategies.

The project aims to build a formal multi-dimensional threat-modelling framework that captures interactions between physical, cyber, human, and AI elements, and to integrate AI-driven threat intelligence for automated extraction, classification, and prediction of emerging threats. The methods will be evaluated in realistic autonomous vehicle scenarios and may transfer to other safety-critical domains.

Funding: This is a fully funded IDLA EPSRC studentship with an industrial partner. It covers tuition fees and provides an enhanced stipend above the UKRI minimum, plus travel, equipment, and laboratory consumables support. An industrial placement with a global automotive manufacturer is included.

Eligibility: Applicants should have a UK first-class honours degree or international equivalent in cyber security, computer science, artificial intelligence, engineering, or a closely related discipline. Strong programming skills (Python, C++, or similar), a background in secure systems and threat modelling, and knowledge of AI/ML are essential. Experience with adversarial machine learning or security of AI-enabled systems is desirable. The opportunity is open to UK and Horizon Europe students only.

How to apply: Apply via the University of Southampton application process. Select Research, 2026/27, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, then Full time or Part time, and search for programme PhD Computer Science (7089). Add the supervisor name in section 2 and submit the required documents: research proposal, CV, two academic references, transcripts/certificates, and English language qualification if applicable.

Deadline: Applications are reviewed as they arrive, and the advert may close early once a suitable candidate is found. The page shows a project date of 2026-10-27.

Funding details

This is an IDLA EPSRC studentship with an industrial partner. It is fully funded, including tuition fees and an enhanced stipend above the UKRI minimum, plus a generous allowance for travel, equipment, and laboratory consumables. An industrial placement with a global automotive manufacturer is also offered.

What's required

Applicants must have a UK first-class honours degree or international equivalent in cyber security, computer science, artificial intelligence, engineering, or a closely related discipline. Essential skills include excellent programming ability (e.g. Python, C++ or similar), a strong background in cyber security including threat modelling and secure systems, solid understanding of artificial intelligence and machine learning, and a strong interest in autonomous vehicles and safety-critical systems. Experience with adversarial machine learning or security of AI-enabled systems is desirable. The project is open to UK and Horizon Europe students only.

How to apply

Apply through the University of Southampton portal by choosing Research, 2026/27, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, then Full time or Part time. Search for programme PhD Computer Science (7089) and add the supervisor name in section 2. Include a research proposal, CV, two academic references, transcripts/certificates, and English language qualification if applicable.

More information can be found here

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