PhD Studentship: Understanding the Impact of AI on Project Management

Closing Date: 15 August 2025

Eligibility: UK Only

Funding: Joint School of Civil Engineering/EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award Studentship, providing the award of full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate of £20,780 per year for 3.5 years. An additional Top-Up of £3,000 per year for 3.5 years is available to previous University of Leeds graduates.

Lead Supervisor’s full name & email address

Dr Yixue Shen: Y.Shen1@leeds.ac.uk

Co-supervisor name & email address

Professor Christine Unterhitzenberger: C.Unterhitzenberger@leeds.ac.uk

Project summary

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into project-based work across industries, with the potential to transform how projects are conceived, planned, and delivered. Despite growing interest, the adoption of AI in project management remains in the nascent stages. This PhD project will critically investigate how AI is shaping the management of projects and project studies. It aims to generate new knowledge on the technical and behavioural transformations triggered by AI across different project contexts.

The project sits at the broad research area of AI and project management. It is interdisciplinary in nature and can be tailored to suit the interests and backgrounds of individual candidates. Applicants from diverse disciplines—such as construction, engineering, computer science, business and management—are encouraged to apply.

Methodological approaches are flexible and may include qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods, depending on the research focus.

Exemplary research topics include (but are not limited to):

• The development of AI-related skills and competencies for project practitioners
• The factors influencing project managers’ and organizations’ willingness to adopt AI applications for their projects.
• AI transformation processes in projects and organizations
• Ethical considerations of using AI in project planning and delivery
• The use of project data analytics in AI-driven decision-making
• Machine learning applications to improve project cost, risk, and schedule performance 

Please state your entry requirements plus any necessary or desired background

A first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline.

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