J Alcaraz Calero

Aston University’s Centre for Cybersecurity, Privacy and Trust (CyberHub) is offering a fully funded PhD studentship in the exciting field of Orchestrated, Spontaneous Multi-Agent Agentic Systems. This project leverages advances in agentic Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI to develop collaborative agentic AI agents capable of autonomously allocating resources, composing services, monitoring and optimizing, and securing infrastructure and service delivery. The research will utilize cutting-edge agentic tools and frameworks such as MCP, Agento2Agent, LangChain, and CrewAI. The successful candidate will conduct research and development of novel approaches to systems based on Multi-Agent Agentic AI architectures, collaboratively develop applications, build and operate a cloud/local testbed (primarily open-source), and conduct experiments and data analysis. The role also includes creating demonstrable proof-of-concepts, integrating subsystems, and presenting at events. Collaboration with leading industry and academic partners in the UK and Europe is a key feature, and participation in international projects may involve travel to workshops and meetings. The candidate will contribute to internal project reports, deliverables, and scientific publications, and will be encouraged to participate in teaching activities and student supervision within Aston University. This studentship covers all tuition fees and provides an annual stipend of £21,805. However, the successful candidate is responsible for costs related to relocation, campus visits, visa, flights, and NHS Surcharge. International applicants are welcome, but must ensure they meet the financial requirements for UK study. Applicants should hold a UK First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, Networks, or related fields. A Masters degree (UK Merit or higher) is advantageous. Strong skills in software development and systems administration are required. Applications must include transcripts, certificates, a research statement, personal statement, CV, two academic references, evidence of English proficiency, and a passport copy. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The position is based at Aston Campus in Birmingham, UK, and regular in-person attendance is expected. Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. For further information, contact the Postgraduate Admissions team at [email protected]. Apply directly via the provided link. This is a unique opportunity to join a top European university and contribute to innovative research in agentic AI and multi-agent systems.

This PhD project at Aston University, within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, explores the intersection of quantum machine learning and financial fraud detection. Financial crime, including payment fraud, money laundering, identity theft, and insider trading, poses significant risks to global economies. The research aims to develop generative modelling and adversarial robustness techniques on NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) quantum processors, leveraging advances in artificial intelligence, cyber security, and quantum computing. Supervised by Dr M Khan and Prof J Alcaraz Calero, the project will focus on innovative approaches to detect and mitigate financial fraud using quantum-enhanced machine learning algorithms. The research will involve designing and implementing quantum generative models, evaluating their performance against adversarial attacks, and assessing their robustness in real-world financial scenarios. The project is highly interdisciplinary, combining expertise in computer science, mathematics, statistics, information technology, and physics. Applicants should have a strong academic background in relevant fields, with excellent programming skills and familiarity with machine learning, quantum computing, or cyber security. The project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the interface of quantum technologies and financial security. While funding details are not specified, candidates are encouraged to check for potential scholarships or funding options at Aston University. The application deadline is 1 June 2026. Interested candidates should apply online via the FindAPhD project link, ensuring they meet the entry requirements and prepare all necessary documents. For further information, prospective applicants may contact the supervisors directly.