Olga Jurasz

A fully funded PhD position is available at The Open University, based in Milton Keynes, UK, within the Centre for Protecting Women Online. The project focuses on how policing can better prevent and respond to technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (VAWG). Supervised by Professor Olga Jurasz and Dr Keely Duddin, the research will explore evidence-led, victim-centred, and intersectional strategies for addressing digital violence. Possible research themes include legitimacy and prevention, officer well-being and skills, suspect behaviour, and intersectionality and vulnerability. The position offers a stipend of approximately £20,780 per year, full tuition coverage, and a research support grant. Applicants from around the world are encouraged to apply, provided they have a strong academic background in relevant fields such as law, criminology, or gender studies. The application deadline is 7 January 2026, and a pre-application webinar will be held on 11 December 2025. For more information and to apply, visit the provided link.

This PhD opportunity at The Open University, based in the Centre for Protecting Women Online, focuses on policing technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (VAWG). The project addresses the growing challenge of online harms in a world where digital and physical boundaries are increasingly blurred. Despite the development of legal and policy frameworks such as the Online Safety Act 2023 and the EU AI Act 2024, policing responses to online VAWG remain fragmented, with significant gaps in prevention, enforcement, and victim support. The research aims to inform proactive, evidence-led, and victim-centred policing strategies that are intersectional and responsive to the rapid evolution of technology and AI. Key research themes include improving public trust and legitimacy in policing online harms, developing victim-centred and proactive strategies, fostering collaboration with technology platforms, supporting officer well-being and skills development, understanding suspect behaviour, and tailoring responses to the diverse experiences of women from intersecting identities. The successful candidate will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment funded by a £7.7 million grant from Research England. The Centre for Protecting Women Online is dedicated to understanding and addressing the challenges posed to women’s safety online through ambitious research and cross-sectoral collaboration. The Centre’s work is delivered through five interwoven streams: Law & Policy, Human Behaviour, The Future of Responsible Tech, Ethical and Responsible Tech/AI, and Policing. Supervision will be provided by Professor Olga Jurasz, a leading expert in legal responses to violence against women and feminist governance of online spaces, and Dr Keely Duddin, a Chartered Psychologist specialising in organisational well-being and gender equity in policing. Applicants are encouraged from diverse backgrounds, including law, criminology, gender studies, psychology, technology, and public policy. The project is available for campus-based study only. This research has the potential to shape evidence-led prevention strategies, improve victim-centred practices, support officer training, and influence law and policy to better protect women and girls online.