PhD Studentship: Designing Human-AI Teams for Meaningful Human Control of 'Machine-Speed' Operations
University of Birmingham
The Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (Centre-UB) is inviting applications for a Doctoral Studentship in association with BAE Systems, to start from 4 January 2027. This PhD explores the design of human-AI teams when the AI agents operate at ‘machine-speed’ (i.e., significantly faster than human cognitive and communication capabilities). The research will be applicable to command teams working in uncertain and information-degraded environments. Meaningful human contr...
The Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (Centre-UB) is inviting applications for a Doctoral Studentship in association with BAE Systems, to start from 4 January 2027. This PhD explores the design of human-AI teams when the AI agents operate at ‘machine-speed’ (i.e., significantly faster than human cognitive and communication capabilities). The research will be applicable to command teams working in uncertain and information-degraded environments. Meaningful human contr...
Opportunity details
The Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (Centre-UB) is inviting applications for a Doctoral Studentship in association with BAE Systems, to start from 4 January 2027. This PhD explores the design of human-AI teams when the AI agents operate at ‘machine-speed’ (i.e., significantly faster than human cognitive and communication capabilities). The research will be applicable to command teams working in uncertain and information-degraded environments. Meaningful human control is necessary when humans have to be retained in or on the loop. This requires the AI to be explainable, allowing people to make sense of and set constraints on, the recommendations and behaviour of machine speed decision-making. The PhD considers the following questions (although these might change as the research develops along lines that the PhD student and sponsors find particularly compelling): How can we align human decision-making and situation awareness with the processing speed and data capacity of Artificial Intelligence systems, i.e., ‘machine-speed’ operations, without disrupting or compromising such operations? How can we ensure humans retain authority for actions undertaken as the result of recommendations made through machine-speed operations? How can we ensure that humans have sufficient understanding of the recommendations made through machine-speed operations? How can we ensure that machine-speed operations are sufficiently aware of the preferences, intuitions and experience of humans working with them? The project will involve experiments in which human participants interact with AI agents (e.g., developed using CrewAI or similar platform) and will run in teams of 4-6 agents (human or AI), e.g., the teams could be all human, all AI, or com...
Eligibility
How can we ensure that machine-speed operations are sufficiently aware of the preferences, intuitions and experience of humans working with them? We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Cognitive Psychology, Human Factors, Ergonomics, Human-Computer Interaction, or related behavioural science. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Previous experience with experiments involving human participants (particularly in decision making and / or teams), and statistical analysis of data is essential.
Requirements
How can we ensure that machine-speed operations are sufficiently aware of the preferences, intuitions and experience of humans working with them? We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Cognitive Psychology, Human Factors, Ergonomics, Human-Computer Interaction, or related behavioural science. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Previous experience with experiments involving human participants (particularly in decision making and / or teams), and statistical analysis of data is essential.
Funding and benefits
Funding eligibility: UK Students. Funding amount: Centre-UB studentships cover tuition fees, a maintenance stipend, support for research training, as well as research activity support grants.. Centre-UB studentships cover tuition fees, a maintenance stipend, support for research training, as well as research activity support grants. This studentship is open to Home applicants only. You can find further details at www.centre-ub.org
Required documents
references
How to apply
The Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (Centre-UB) is inviting applications for a Doctoral Studentship in association with BAE Systems, to start from 4 January 2027. Informal enquiries about the project prior to application can be directed to Professor Chris Baber (c.baber@bham.ac.uk).
Open the official application information
Verify the deadline and final conditions on the official provider page before submitting an application.
Source and verification
Check the current official call before applying
This independent listing was last checked on September 4, 2026. We compare the named provider, deadline status, eligibility, funding claims and application destination where those details are available. The live provider page is the final authority.
Benefits
Funding eligibility: UK Students. Funding amount: Centre-UB studentships cover tuition fees, a maintenance stipend, support for research training, as well as research activity support grants.. Centre-UB studentships cover tuition fees, a maintenance stipend, support for research training, as well as research activity support grants. This studentship is open to Home applicants only. You can find further details at www.centre-ub.org
Eligibility summary
How can we ensure that machine-speed operations are sufficiently aware of the preferences, intuitions and experience of humans working with them? We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Cognitive Psychology, Human Factors, Ergonomics, Human-Computer Interaction, or related behavioural science. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Previous experience with experiments involving human participants (particularly in decision making and / or teams), and statistical analysis of data is essential.
Requirements
How can we ensure that machine-speed operations are sufficiently aware of the preferences, intuitions and experience of humans working with them? We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1st class or 2:1 degree in the field of Cognitive Psychology, Human Factors, Ergonomics, Human-Computer Interaction, or related behavioural science. An MSc degree in a relevant area is desirable though not necessary. Previous experience with experiments involving human participants (particularly in decision making and / or teams), and statistical analysis of data is essential.
Documents required
references
Language/test requirements
Listing-board disclaimer
Prime Scholarship Alerts is an independent listing board, not the scholarship provider, university or funder. We do not select applicants, collect provider application fees or guarantee an award. Verify requirements, deadlines, funding, fees and application instructions through the current provider page before applying.