PhD Studentship - Generalisable Multimodal Learning for Socio-Contextual Human Behaviour Modelling Manchester Metropolitan University in United Kingdom

[Home tuition fees (£5,006/year for 2025/26) covered for three years; international students must pay the difference. Standard UKRI stipend (£20,780 for 2025/26) provided for duration of award.]

This funded PhD studentship at Manchester Metropolitan University offers an outstanding opportunity to join the Faculty of Science and Engineering’s dynamic doctoral research community. The project is part of the university’s strategic investment in developing future thought leaders and is embedded within the AI, Digital and Cyber-Physical Systems research theme. The overarching goal is to design generalisable, context-aware multimodal learning frameworks for modelling human behaviour across diverse socio-contexts, with applications in healthcare, emotional recognition, and human-machine interaction.

As a PhD student, you will investigate advanced AI methods that integrate vision, language, and audio signals to interpret and respond to human actions and emotions. The research will address critical challenges in personalised care and assistive technologies, contributing to innovations that improve quality of life. You will explore multimodal learning and unlearning techniques, focusing on bias mitigation and privacy concerns, and validate your methods through real-world use cases.

The project is closely linked to a UKRI-funded initiative, providing opportunities to collaborate with postdoctoral researchers, early-career academics, and established professors. You will curate multimodal datasets, develop robust context-aware learning algorithms, and evaluate their generalisability across different socio-contexts. The research environment is vibrant and supportive, with access to cutting-edge resources and expertise in AI and digital technologies.

Funding is available for both Home and International students. Home tuition fees (£5,006 per year for 2025/26) are fully covered for three years, and a standard UKRI stipend (£20,780 for 2025/26) is provided for the duration of the award. International students are eligible but must pay the difference in tuition fees (Band 2 for 2025/26).

Applicants should have a first class or upper second undergraduate degree in Computer Science or an MSc in a related field. Strong programming skills and motivation for research are essential, with desirable expertise in computer vision, machine learning, and multimodal data processing. Experience with Python and AI/ML libraries such as PyTorch or TensorFlow is required. Candidates should be enthusiastic about advancing AI for societal impact and able to demonstrate relevant skills and experience.

To apply, interested candidates should contact Prof. Moi Hoon Yap for an informal discussion. Applications must be submitted online via the university’s Admissions Portal, including the Doctoral Project Applicant Form, CV, and a covering letter detailing how your skills and experience align with the project’s aims and objectives. Please quote reference SciEng-MHY-2026-27-Multimodal Context-Aware Behaviour. The application deadline is 31 January 2026, with an expected start date in October 2026.