University of Cambridge
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6 days ago
PhD Studentship in Human-Computer Interaction and Critical Computing University of Cambridge in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Fixed-term studentship for 3.5 years. Applicants are expected to apply for University Funding Competitions. If unsuccessful, Dr. Seaborn may be able to award a Home Rate Studentship. International students would need to self-fund the difference between home and international fees.
Deadline
Dec 2, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Cambridge
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About this position
PhD studentship at the University of Cambridge in the Department of Computer Science and Technology, hosted by the Aspirational Computing Lab. The project sits at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI) and critical computing, with a focus on a “deceptive by design” research agenda.
Research topics of interest include persuasion and deception in conversational agents, trust and overtrust in AI systems, interventions against interface deception and digital addiction, and broader critical computing themes such as equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I/DEI), accessibility, inclusive design, feminism, intersectionality, trans and gender diversity studies, and misinformation/information deception.
The successful applicant is expected to propose a specific research question, methodology, and research plan, and to work closely with Dr. Katie Seaborn and senior researchers. The role includes training in the first half-year, then increasing independence in the second half of the doctorate, plus participation in research communication, outreach, and potentially undergraduate supervision.
Eligibility highlights: first-class honours degree or equivalent required; a Master’s-level degree or other postgraduate work is highly desirable. Applicants should have strong HCI fundamentals, user-centred design knowledge, experience with human-participant research and experimental design, basic data analysis skills (e.g. R or thematic analysis), familiarity with deception in computing/HCI, and practical skills in at least two of programming/machine learning, interaction design, and research design.
Funding: fixed-term for 3.5 years. Applicants are expected to apply for University Funding Competitions. If funding is unsuccessful, a Home Rate Studentship may be available; international students would need to cover the difference between home and international fees.
Application: contact Dr. Seaborn in advance to assess fit, then apply online via the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal. Quote reference NR50923 in the Research Topic field and submit transcripts, CV, two academic references, and a research proposal PDF (about 2 pages proposal, 1 page first-year deliverables, and references on a fourth page). Closing date: 2 December 2026.
Funding details
Fixed-term studentship for 3.5 years. Applicants are expected to apply for University Funding Competitions. If unsuccessful, Dr. Seaborn may be able to award a Home Rate Studentship. International students would need to self-fund the difference between home and international fees.
What's required
Applicants should have a first-class honours degree or equivalent; a Master's-level degree or other postgraduate work is highly desirable. The degree/background should be relevant to HCI and/or critical computing and the proposed topic. Required strengths include solid understanding of HCI fundamentals and user-centred design, strong communication and interpersonal skills, experience with human-participant research and experimental design, basic data analysis skills including statistics tools like R and/or thematic analysis, familiarity with deception in computing/HCI, relevant publications or portfolio/open-source work, and practical skills in at least two of programming and/or machine learning, interaction design, and research design. Applicants must contact Dr. Seaborn in advance to assess topic and background fit and should demonstrate engagement with the advert, the lab website, and Dr. Seaborn's research.
How to apply
Apply online via the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal and use reference NR50923 in the Research Topic field so the application is routed to Dr. Seaborn. Submit transcripts, CV, two academic references, and the required research proposal PDF plus the online form sections. Ensure both referees submit references before the closing date.
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