PhD Studentship: More-than-Human Smart Cities

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in the Centre for Human-Computer Interaction Design, based in the Department of Computer Science. The successful candidate will undertake PhD research on the topic of More-than-Human Smart Cities.

Summary:

Half of humanity – 3.5 billion people – lives in cities today and 68% of the world’s population is projected to live in urban areas by 2050. Changes in land use including increasing urbanisation are driving factors in biodiversity decline worldwide. While digital technologies are changing our cities through networked sensing, AI and cloud computing in what has become known as the smart city, the more-than-human aspects of smart cities have thus far remained peripheral. A more-than-human perspective of cities is one that acknowledges and designs for the interrelations between humans and nonhuman others – including plants, animals, bacteria, as well as water, air and sensors – in urban space. With an unprecedented rate of species extinctions, with grave impacts on people around the world, scholars, practitioners and policymakers have started to acknowledge that a human-centred notion of smart cities, perceived and built for humans alone, is increasingly untenable.

This PhD research project will work with diverse urban inhabitants through creative design methods, to prototype new solutions for more-than-human smart cities. The PhD research will seek to contribute a strong interdisciplinary foundation for how emerging digital technologies and their data can be harnessed for a more-than-human sustainable and inclusive agenda in cities. The PhD research will involve applied research using approaches such as speculative design, participatory design, interaction design, data visualisation or data physicalisation.

The successful candidate will work under the guidance of Dr Sara Heitlinger and Professor Stephanie Wilson, in the Centre for Human-Computer Interaction Design. The PhD student will be part of the Mosaic project, which has received an investment of £1.6million from UKRI.

About the Mosaic project:

Mosaic is a four-year programme of collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral research and innovation that will deliver a step change in how we design, plan and build our cities for thriving multispecies cohabitation. The research is investigating largescale transformation of smart cities from a human-centered perspective, to a more-than-human one.

About the Centre for Human-Computer Interaction Design:

The Centre for HCI Design (HCID) is a leading Human-Computer Interaction group in the UK, based in the Department for Computer Science at City St George’s, University of London. We take great pride in our outstanding research, teaching and consultancy services. Our concern is for how technologies entangle in the many and varied forms of life, and the possibilities for creating the conditions for better ways of living together. HCID is a collective endeavour, and our work and collaborations are guided by our charter.

Eligibility and requirements 

These are the essential criteria for this PhD studentship: 

• MSc degree in HCI, Computer Science, Design, Sociology, Anthropology, Urban Planning, Architecture or Art or related field, or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline.
• Demonstratable aptitude for original research
• Good understanding of more-than-human literature from design and HCI
• Both creative and technical aptitude
• Skilled in design research methods such as participatory design, interaction design, physical prototyping or data visualisation
• Proficiency in qualitative research methods (for example interviews, co-design, workshops, cultural probes)
• Commitment to and interest in the topic
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research
• Able to take initiative and work as part of a team
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Be self-motivated, proactive, and possess creative problem-solving skills

Please note

This is an in-person role, and you are expected to be on campus for at least 60% of your time.

Studentship and support 

The studentship is for 3 years, is open to international candidates and will cover fees, stipend (in line with UKRI rates), fieldwork, training costs and travel for conferences and events (up to an additional £4,000 total). The successful candidate will also benefit from a comprehensive programme of training to develop their research and transferable skills. Start date July/October 2025.

Additional income: Each student may also have the opportunity to earn around £2,200/year on an average (max. is around £4,300/year) through a teaching assistantship.

If you are interested in applying, you are welcome to contact Sara Heitlinger who is happy to address any initial informal enquiries: sara.heitlinger@city.ac.uk

How to apply

Online applications should be submitted via the course page bu clicking the 'Apply' button, above, and apply for Human-Computer Interaction

As part of your application, submit a personal statement (max 1000 words), answering the questions below and how you meet the essential criteria. You should also submit a CV and a sample of your academic writing. This should be a single piece of work (e.g., an academic paper, dissertation or individual project, or coursework).

Personal statement:

1. Tell us about your interest in the topic of this PhD and any experience you have related to this topic. If you like you can include an image of something you have made. Please tell us more about it [250 words max]
2. Tell us about your interest and any experience in working with design (for example: interaction design, critical design, iterative design, participatory design, speculative design) [250 words max]
3. Tell us about your interest and any experience in undertaking research (knowing how to answer challenging questions reliably and understand the quality of your answers and where they can be applied) [250 words max]
4. A core element of the Mosaic project involves working collaboratively with other team members and external partners. Please tell us about a time when you've worked with others. What did you bring to and learn from the group? [250 words max]

Interviews will take place in May.

For queries regarding the application process, please contact pgr.sst.enquire@city.ac.uk

City St George’s, University of London is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all its activities, processes, and culture for our whole community, including staff, students and visitors.

We welcome applications regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital status, nationality, pregnancy, race and ethnic origin, religion and belief, sex, sexual orientation and socio-economic background. City St George’s operates a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants.