Investigating AI-Driven Personalisation and Generative Design Techniques for Enhanced UX in Digital Health Interfaces

Summary

The UK faces the longest hospital waiting times in its history, with rising demand and the impact of the pandemic creating an unacceptable backlog of patients awaiting care.

Addressing this requires not only investment in hospital capacity but also innovative digital solutions that can shift care upstream, reduce unnecessary demand, and support patients earlier in their health journeys.

This project explores how AI-driven personalisation and generative design techniques can create more effective digital health interfaces, helping to improve user engagement, health outcomes, and system efficiency.

Artificial intelligence (AI) will be investigated as both a tool to assess the quality of user interface and user experience (UI/UX) designs, and as a generative engine (GenAI) to produce candidate interface designs.

By providing multiple tailored options, generative AI can support designers in making better-informed decisions, while enabling health platforms to deliver more personalised and efficient digital services.

The project will also explore multimodal and immersive technologies, such as virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR), to support prevention, self-management, and adaptive patient care.

These tools have the potential to reduce avoidable hospital admissions and accelerate access to treatment, directly contributing to cutting waiting times.

A central feature of the research is a user-centred design approach, focusing on the needs of diverse groups including pregnant women, new mothers, older people, those with cardiovascular conditions, and neurodiverse populations.

By personalising interfaces to meet varied needs, the project supports health equity while alleviating pressure on frontline services.

Interdisciplinary collaboration between HCI researchers, healthcare professionals, and computer scientists will ensure robust outcomes, while ethical considerations such as privacy and responsible AI use remain central.

In summary, this project aligns technological innovation with the urgent policy goal of reducing waiting times, creating digital health tools that are smarter, more accessible, and more impactful.

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.

• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• Research proposal of 2000 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project

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.

• Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project

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)

Our fully funded PhD scholarships will cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance allowance of £21,000 (approximately) per annum for three years* (subject to satisfactory academic performance).  A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £900 per annum is also available.

These scholarships, funded via the Department for the Economy (DfE), are open to applicants worldwide, regardless of residency or domicile.

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) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

*Part time PhD scholarships may be available to home candidates, based on 0.5 of the full time rate, and will require a six year registration period.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.