Coventry University PhD Studentship in Designing Effective Human-AI Collaboration for National Security Analysis 2027

This PhD is a cotutelle PhD between Coventry University (UK) and Stellenbosch University (South Africa). The successful candidate will primarily be based in Stellenbosch, but will be required to undertake a significant period of study in Coventry as a requirement of the PhD.

The project addresses a timely and under-studied question for government agencies: what are the fundamental needs and activities of professional analysts, and how can LLMs support those needs without distorting judgement, weakening accountability, or encouraging over-reliance on the tools? The challenge is not only to access information, but to construct meaning, test competing interpretations, and produce defensible judgements under conditions of uncertainty. Security studies research has long described this as a sensemaking problem involving information foraging, representation, hypothesis generation, and the conversion of insight into analytic products. 

The proposed studentship  will study natinal security analysis as a socio-cognitive practice involving information foraging, representation, hypothesis generation, and the conversion of insight into analytic products in environments characterised by ambiguity, data overload, fragmented evidence, and shifting time pressures. It will identify the points at which analysts need support, and evaluate whether LLMs can meet those needs in ways that improve analytical performance and organisational resilience. The result will be a theoretically grounded and operationally relevant account of where LLMs fit into national security work, where they do not, and how support should be designed around the analyst rather than around the model.

Project details

The studentship will aim to identify the core needs, activities, and cognitive demands of security analysts, and to determine how LLMs can support those needs in ways that strengthen rather than displace human sensemaking and judgement.

• Table of Content
• About Coventry University
• Coventry University PhD Studentship in Designing Effective Human-AI Collaboration for National Security Analysis PhD Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Coventry University PhD Studentship in Designing Effective Human-AI Collaboration for National Security Analysis PhD Scholarship
• Requirements for Coventry University PhD Studentship in Designing Effective Human-AI Collaboration for National Security Analysis PhD Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Coventry University PhD Studentship in Designing Effective Human-AI Collaboration for National Security Analysis PhD Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Coventry University PhD Studentship in Designing Effective Human-AI Collaboration for National Security Analysis PhD Scholarship

• This scholarship provides full tuition fees and bursary.
• The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal and professional skills.
• All researchers at Coventry University (from PhD to Professor) are part of the Doctoral and Researcher College, which provides support with high-quality training and career development activities.

Requirements for Coventry University PhD Studentship in Designing Effective Human-AI Collaboration for National Security Analysis PhD Scholarship Qualification

Entry requirements

• A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.

PLUS

• A master's degree in a relevant subject area.The master's must have been attained with minimum overall marks at merit level (60%)*. In addition, the dissertation or equivalent element in the master's must also have been attained with a minimum mark of merit level (60%).
• The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within 3.5 years.
• A minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS academic overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component).

Essential skills and knowledge

• A first-class or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Information Science, Security Studies, Data Science, Social Science, or another relevant discipline.
• An interest in the interaction between humans and artificial intelligence, particularly the use of generative AI in complex decision-making.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information and develop well-reasoned arguments.
• An understanding of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods and a willingness to apply empirical methods to real-world research questions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• The ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a long-term research project.

Desirable knowledge and experience

• Familiarity with large language models, generative AI, or natural language processing.
  Knowledge of human-computer interaction (HCI), human-centred AI, cognitive systems engineering, or user-centred design.
• Understanding of intelligence analysis, security analysis, decision-making under uncertainty, or sensemaking.
• Experience conducting interviews, surveys, observations, workshops, or other empirical research involving human participants.
• Experience analysing qualitative or mixed-methods data.
• Familiarity with experimental design and evaluation methods.
• Experience using generative AI tools to support research or analytical tasks.
• Knowledge of AI ethics, responsible AI, explainability, or trust in AI systems.
• Awareness of organisational change, technology adoption, or socio-technical systems.

Personal attributes

• Curious about how people work with AI rather than simply how AI systems work.
• Motivated to undertake interdisciplinary research spanning AI, human behaviour, and national security.
• Able to think critically about emerging technologies and evaluate evidence objectively.
• Comfortable engaging with practitioners and translating research findings into practical recommendations.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the confidence to conduct interviews and facilitate discussions with stakeholders.
• Open to learning methods from multiple disciplines, including computing, behavioural science, and organisational research.
• Committed to conducting rigorous, ethical, and reproducible research.
• Able to handle complex, ambiguous problems where there may be no single "correct" answer.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• To find out more about the project, please contact Professor Andrew Glazzard.
• All applications require full supporting documentation, a covering letter, plus a 2000-word supporting statement showing how the applicant’s expertise and interests are relevant to the project.
• Apply to Coventry University

For more details, visit Coventry University Scholarship webpage