Human-Centred AI for Personalised Health, Healthy Ageing and Independent Living

Summary

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creating new opportunities to transform health and care through personalised monitoring, early identification of health risks, intelligent assistance and technologies that support people to live independently. However, achieving meaningful real-world impact requires AI systems that are not only intelligent, but also trustworthy, explainable, accessible and designed around the needs of individuals, carers and wider stakeholders.

The Human-Centred Computing (HCC) research team, within Ulster University’s Intelligent Systems Research Centre (ISRC), invites applications for PhD research addressing these challenges through the development of innovative human-centred AI technologies for personalised health, healthy ageing and independent living.

Applicants are invited to consider the following research directions:

AI-Driven Digital Biosignatures for Personalised Health Monitoring
Supervisory Chair: Dr Faisal Jamil

This project will investigate how AI can identify digital biosignatures from wearable, physiological, behavioural and clinical health data. Multimodal and explainable AI approaches will be developed to discover meaningful patterns associated with changes in health and emerging risks. Through longitudinal data analysis, the research will develop personalised health profiles that capture individual variability and support early risk prediction. Privacy-preserving approaches will also be explored, contributing to trustworthy and interpretable AI for proactive and personalised healthcare.

Intelligent Reminder and Assistive Technologies for Dementia Care
Supervisory Chair: Dr Priyanka Chaurasia

Building on existing Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) research, this project will develop AI-enabled approaches for personalised dementia care and healthy ageing. It will investigate how older adults and carers interact with reminder and assistive technologies, focusing on usability, personalisation, accessibility, adoption and explainability. The research will explore how AI can enable adaptive reminder and support systems that respond to individual needs and preferences, helping older adults maintain independence and supporting carers in everyday dementia care.

AI-Driven Technology to Support People with Dementia at Home
Supervisory Chair: Prof Joan Condell

This project will continue work established in the HCC team creating AI models that will detect, prevent, and monitor agitation in people living with dementia. An intelligent platform will be co-designed by people living with dementia and their carers, enabling better understanding of behaviour through from diagnosis to post-diagnosis support. This platform will empower people living with Dementia, helping them maintain independence in their daily lives, decisions, social interactions, and activities in their own homes.

Successful applicants will join the multidisciplinary HCC team within ISRC, benefiting from expertise across AI, machine learning, human-computer interaction, digital health and assistive technologies, while contributing to research with significant potential for societal and healthcare impact.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Applicants should hold, or expect to hold a First Class Honours Degree in a relevant subject area
• International applicants should hold, or expect to hold a relevant Masters Degree at a level equivalent to a distinction at Ulster
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Track record of peer reviewed publications
• Experience of presentation of research findings

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)
• Vice Chancellor's Research Scholarship (VCRS)

PhD Scholarships are available for this project and will cover:

• Tuition fees.
• A maintenance allowance of approximately £22,000 (exact rate is to be confirmed) per annum for three years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
• A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £900 per annum.

To be eligible for these scholarships applicants must: be a UK or Irish national; or have pre-settled or settled status; or have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

Applicants should also meet the residency criteria which requires that they have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the three years preceding the start date of the research degree programme i.e. September 2027.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year, or part-time equivalent, funded from any source, including self-financing students, are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Students in full-time employment are not eligible for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.

Part-time PhD scholarships may be available at a 0.5 pro rata rate of the full-time scholarship, which would require a six-year registration period.

The University will award a successful candidate one of the following scholarships for the project, depending on the funding available at the time an admissions offer is made:

1. Department for the Economy (DfE) PhD Scholarships
2. Vice Chancellor’s Research Scholarships (VCRS)

Please note that the Terms and Conditions for scholarships are subject to change for 2027/28.