Mark Stuart

Fully funded PhD studentship at the ESRC Centre for Digital Futures at Work (Digit), based in Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds. The project is titled “Developing Systems of Employee Voice within Digital Transformation at the Workplace” and sits at the intersection of employee voice, digital transformation, workplace AI, industrial relations, and work and employment studies. The research will examine how involving employees in digital transformation may improve trust, support job redesign, and strengthen skills upgrading, with a focus on UK finance and insurance sector case studies. The studentship is associated with the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP) and must fit within one of the ESRC Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways. It is open to UK and international applicants, including EU applicants. Funding includes fees at standard Research Council rates, a maintenance grant of £21,805 in Session 2026/27 for full-time study, pro-rata for part-time study, and a Research Training Support Grant for travel and research costs during the PhD part of the award. International relocation costs such as visa, insurance, NHS fees, and flights are not covered. Duration options include 1+3.5, +3.5, and +3.75 routes. Typical eligibility depends on prior social science training: applicants with a relevant social science Masters may fit +3.5 or +3.75, while applicants without a social science Masters may be considered for 1+3.5. Applicants must first apply for a research programme of study and obtain a Student ID Number before submitting the studentship form. If English is not the first language, evidence of the University’s minimum English language requirements is required. Deadline: Friday 3 July 2026 at 17:00 UK time. The project includes a 3-month Research in Practice placement and potential collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and Trades Union Congress (TUC).

Fully funded PhD opportunity at the University of Leeds: Digital Futures at Work , offered through the ESRC White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP) . The project sits in the ESRC Centre for Digital Futures at Work (Digit) and Leeds University Business School, with a focus on the intersection of work, technology, society, employee voice, digital transformation, AI, workplace voice, fairness, power, and the digital economy . The advertised project is Developing Systems of Employee Voice Within Digital Transformation at the Workplace . It examines how involving employees in digital transformation may improve trust, support job redesign, and strengthen skills upgrading. The study uses company-focused case studies in the UK finance and insurance sector and combines qualitative and quantitative approaches across unionised and non-unionised workplaces. The student may also shape the project in collaboration with partners such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) , Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) , and potentially the Trades Union Congress (TUC) . This is a research-intensive, interdisciplinary studentship with training through the Digit Doctoral Network. The award can be taken as 1+3.5 , +3.5 , or +3.75 , depending on prior training and degree background. Typical applicants include those with a social science Masters degree and relevant research training, or applicants without a social science Masters for the 1+3.5 route. Funding includes fees at standard Research Council rates, a maintenance grant of £21,805 in Session 2026/27 for full-time study (pro-rata for part-time), and a Research Training Support Grant for travel and research costs. International relocation costs such as visa, insurance, NHS fees, and flights are not covered. Eligibility highlights: the studentship is open to UK and international applicants (including EU), but the project must fit at least one ESRC Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathway. Applicants must first apply for a standard research postgraduate programme at Leeds and obtain a Student Application ID before submitting the studentship form. English language evidence is required if English is not the first language. Deadline: 3 July 2026 at 17:00 UK time. The funding start date is 1 October 2026 for +3.5 and +3.75 awards; 1+3.5 awards must start in September 2026.