PhD Studentship: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Democratic Security

Democratic countries have increasingly seen their democratic processes and governance come under attack through cyberspace, including efforts to subvert elections by nation state adversaries.  These problems have been compounded by the emergence of Artificial Intelligence.  New forms of algorithmic manipulation have been used to sow discord in democratic societies, undermine trust in politics, and erode the solidarity and cooperation within and between democratic countries.  There have been concerns about the use of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) as tools for the dissemination of disinformation and the use of these AI-enabled technologies to cause harm to democracy itself.

In light of these challenges, we seek an ambitious PhD candidate to establish a research agenda on the relationship between AI and democratic security and to explore the challenges that AI poses to democracy as a form of governance and to the security of electoral and other democratic processes.  This will include theoretical work on the relationship between AI and democratic ideals, an exploration of the history of algorithmic manipulation of democratic processes, examination of the role of the tech sector, including powerful AI companies, in democratic security, and analysis of the development of new forms of agentic and adversarial AI that could undermine democracy.

The candidate will be based in Lancaster University’s School of Global Affairs but will work across disciplines in pursuing the research and with government and industry stakeholders and partners.

The PhD candidate must have a first or upper second-class Undergraduate honours degree or Masters in a discipline relevant to the project. While we expect that this project would suit graduates from a Political Science, Security studies and or International Relations background, we welcome applicants from other relevant disciplines, including psychology, sociology, criminology, law, and computer science.

This PhD studentship is fully funded for up to 3.5 years with a tax-free studentship stipend of £20,780, along with paid tuition fees, subject to satisfactory progress. A budget for training and attending conferences will be provided. Due to tuition fee restrictions, these positions are only available to applicants who are eligible for UK fee status (see https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/fee-status / for further details).

How to apply (there are 2 elements to the process): Please apply though the official University process—instructions can be found at the Lancaster University Admission Portal.

A list of materials you will need:

• Two-page CV
• Names and contact details of two referees (one must be academic).
• In place of a Research Proposal on the Lancaster University application, you may submit a copy of this advertisement
• One-page personal statement which demonstrates the applicant’s relevant research experience
• motivation for choosing a PhD project examining AI and democratic security
• readiness for a PhD studentship

For informal enquiries about the project contact Professor Joe Burton: j.burton6@lancaster.ac.uk

Studentship start date: 1 October 2025

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