ESRC Digital Futures at Work PhD Studentship (2026)

Public Service Transformation, Digital and AI Skills and the Future of Work in Local Government

The ESRC Centre for Digital Futures at Work (Digit) is offering a fully funded PhD studentship starting in 2026, focused on skills and work in the context of digitalisation, AI, and public service transformation in UK local government.

What the studentship offers:

The studentship covers full UK or International tuition fees and provides a UKRI-level stipend (£21,383 per annum, 2026/27) for up to four years (full-time or part-time). The PhD will be based in the Management programme at the University of Sussex Business School and supported through the South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDA).

Research Theme:

The research will investigate how digital and AI technologies are reshaping work organisation, skills requirements, service delivery and career trajectories in the UK local government sector within the context of public service transformation.  

Emphases may include:

• Skills needs and gaps across digital teams and frontline services (e.g. housing, planning, social care);
• The use of digital and AI tools to support preventative, person-centred services that empower residents and enable earlier intervention;
• Service areas undergoing major transformation, where technical and interpersonal skills are closely intertwined.

The project may focus on one theme or combine several, depending on the researcher’s interests and engagement with participating local authorities.

Supervisors: Prof Ödül Bozkurt, Dr Becky Faith, Dr Rachel Verdin.

Eligibility: A minimum 2.1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a field relevant to the sociology of work, a relevant Master’s degree, and a good understanding of the UK local government context.

Deadline: 1 February 2026, 17:00 (GMT).

For details on how to apply please click the above 'Apply' button.

For any enquiries please contact Professor Ödül Bozkurt o.bozkurt@sussex.ac.uk

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