The Financial Judgement of AI: New Insights into Political Ideology and Role-Conditioned Bias University of Strathclyde in United Kingdom

The University of Strathclyde Business School is offering a fully-funded PhD position for a project titled "The Financial Judgement of AI: New Insights into Political Ideology and Role-Conditioned Bias." This research investigates the presence and impact of political ideologies embedded within Large Language Models (LLMs) used for financial analysis and investment advice. The project aims to determine whether LLMs exhibit systematic political orientations and how these may influence their financial judgements and recommendations.

Building on an existing auditing framework, the project will develop a novel survey instrument to uncover political differences by examining how AI systems approach real-world financial decision problems. This innovative methodology will establish a benchmark for measuring political ideology across various LLMs. The research further explores how ideological tendencies shift when LLMs are prompted to adopt professional personas, such as financial analysts or advisors, and assesses the influence of these personas on stock forecasts, investment recommendations, and ESG investment advice, including portfolio construction and justification.

The successful candidate will join a vibrant research environment at the University of Strathclyde Business School, working under the supervision of Dr M Cummins. The project is interdisciplinary, combining elements of computer science, finance, economics, political science, and data science. The position is fully funded for UK students, covering all university tuition fees and providing an annual tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate. International students are eligible to apply but must secure funding for the difference between home and international tuition fees; exceptional candidates may be considered for additional support.

Applicants should possess a strong academic background in computer science, data science, finance, economics, or a related field, with a first or upper second class undergraduate degree or equivalent. Experience with AI, machine learning, or financial analysis is highly desirable. International applicants must meet the university's English language proficiency requirements.

The application deadline is April 30, 2026. Interested candidates should apply online via the provided FindAPhD link, submitting a CV, academic transcripts, and a cover letter detailing their suitability for the project. For further information, prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisor.