PhD in Algorithmic Game Theory (Blockchain Incentives: Consensus and Fairness)

The School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE) is delighted to announce a fully funded PhD Studentship covering Home fees of (£5,006 for 2025-26) plus stipend. Stipends will match standard UKRI rates (£20,780 for 2025-26). Studentships are for a period of 3 years and start from 1 October 2025 (tentative start date). 

The successful PhD candidate will be supervised by Dr Maria Kyropoulou and will work in areas related to (Theoretical) Computer Science, Algorithmic Game Theory, and/or Fair Division with potential applications in Blockchain in the context of the EPSRC funded research project “Blockchain incentives: consensus and fairness”. The project’s aim is to provide a systematic analysis of blockchain protocols with respect to the strategic behaviour of the stakeholders and related fairness properties, towards designing novel theoretical variants that can inform and improve blockchain technology in practice. 

Our School has an international reputation for the outstanding quality of our research and large and thriving graduate research community. We provide an active and stimulating environment to carry out your doctoral research and have an extensive range of specialist labs and facilities. 

The School comprises of four Research Groups, which are:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Brain Computer Interfaces and Neural Engineering
• Communications and Networks
• Robotics and Embedded Systems

Research within the School focuses on exploring fundamental questions in these areas, while applied research is undertaken to provide technological and engineering solutions, methods, algorithms and frameworks to pressing problems. For further information on our current areas of research please refer to our research group pages above, Research interests.

The research of the School is supported through world leading Research Facilities that provides the required infrastructure and testbeds to undertake internationally leading experimental research.

Entry Requirements

You will need a good honours degree and an optional Masters degree, in a subject related to Computer Science, Mathematics, etc.

You will be required to attend a zoom interview for acceptance. Interviews are planned for w/c 9 June 2025.

How to Apply

Applicants are encouraged to reach out directly to the PhD supervisor, Dr Maria Kyropoulou, by sending their CVs and a cover letter explaining their interest to the particular project, to maria.kyropoulou@essex.ac.uk. A brief research proposal is welcome but not required.

Additional questions and queries about the studentship can be sent to maria.kyropoulou@essex.ac.uk.

Deadline for applications

The deadline for applications is 30 May 2025.

Funding Comment

• A full waiver for the cost of Home tuition fees (further fee details).
• A standard tax-free stipend for three years equivalent to the Research Councils UK National Minimum Doctoral Stipend, currently £20,780 p/a.
• £2,500 training bursary via Proficio funding, which may be used to cover the cost of advanced skills training including conference attendance and travel.

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