STEaPP Studentships for 2024 entry

STEaPP have two UCL EPSRC DTP studentships starting in 2024 available; AI for Science and Engineering Advice and The Politics and Efficacy of Network Interference.

The Politics and Efficacy of Network Interference

Supervisor: J esse Sowell
Eligibility: Home or Overseas
Award Start Date: September 2024
Duration of Award: 4 years
Closing Date: 8th January 2024
Funding: Maintenance stipend at the UCL EPSRC DTP enhanced rate, plus a Research Training Support Grant of £4,800 to support with additional training costs (e.g. courses, conferences, travel).

Composition of interference over binary coding and shapes on black background. Global business and digital interface concept digitally generated image.

Network interference, effectively limiting the use of open Internet communication, is on the rise. Network interference ranges from narrowly scoped Internet censorship responding to political protests to sustained Internet shutdowns disconnecting entire countries, impacting not only free speech, but also these countries’ economies. The sophisticated tools and techniques used for network interference are becoming increasingly common across the political spectrum. Understanding the scope and political efficacy of network interference is critical to sustaining the open and nondiscriminatory flow of knowledge and ideas in the global political economy.

This project takes a sociotechnical approach to understanding the mechanisms underlying network interference and their efficacy as political tools. On the technical side, this work builds on data from projects such as the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) and Access Now’s Shutdown Tracker Optimization Project (STOP) to understand the scope, scale, and magnitude of network interference, with a special focus on the capabilities and capacities necessary for governments to sustain network interference strategies. Specific case studies will be identified and developed to understand the efficacy of these strategies, especially in cases where technology transfers from more developed states both further commoditize resource intensive interference campaigns and reinforce the politics of information control. Taken together, this project will integrate studies of political regime type and applications of network interference to better understand the impact of network interference trends on Internet communication, the efficacy of these strategies in meeting regimes’ political goals, and the impact on open communication writ broadly.

This project seeks students passionate about understanding the impacts of network interference and that are keen to engage in sociotechnical research integrating methods from Internet measurement and the social sciences, in particular mixed methods approaches integrating quantitative analyses, geospatial data visualization, and case based methods from political science and international relations.

AI for Science and Engineering Advice

Supervisor: Chris Tyler
Eligibility: Home or Overseas
Award Start Date: September 2024
Duration of Award: 4 years
Closing Date: 8th January 2024
Funding: Maintenance stipend at the UCL EPSRC DTP enhanced rate, plus a Research Training Support Grant of £4,800 to support with additional training costs (e.g. courses, conferences, travel).

Ai, the concept of artificial intelligence use analytics, automation, and an autonomous brain. big data management, computer connection information intelligence technology, ChatGPT, Automated GPT

This project will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) could and should be used to enhance the practice of translating scientific and engineering knowledge into public policy domains (‘science advice’). AI technologies have the potential to change the way that science advice is done in four key areas: synthesising evidence, horizon scanning, drafting policy briefs, and impact evaluation.

Science advice has been done the same way for decades. Advisers’ approaches to evidence syntheses and horizon scanning tend to be rather ad hoc. Policy briefs are one-size-fits-all and take months to produce. Impact evaluation often amounts to counting publications and event attendees. AI tools could revolutionise all these areas, from automating parts of the evidence synthesis process, to producing multiple versions of personalised policy briefs.

The design and application of future AI tools in science advisory systems will inevitably be complicated by legitimate concerns about rigour and trustworthiness. These tools must be co-created with academia and science advisory institutions. Processes will need to be developed to deal with system glitches, such as the tendency for ChatGPT to show political bias.

This PhD project will have two main goals. The first would be to identify AI technologies for science advice, and an assessment of opportunities and challenges in their use. The second goal would be to deliver real-world impact in policy institutions. The programme will be designed from the outset as practice-oriented and will aim to offer advice on and toolkits for the deployment of AI technology for science advice, and/or the production of AI tools for use in science advice.

We are looking for a PhD candidate with a background in computer science (essential) and experience in public policy (desirable).

More information

Full details on eligibility and how to apply are available here. You can also browse the project catalogue to see the full list of UCL EPSRC DTP's available.

If you have any questions about the two studentships listed above please contact steapp.postgraduateresearch@ucl.ac.uk.