Agentic and Explainable AI for Real-Time Cybersecurity in 6G-Enabled Autonomous Systems

About the Project

Future 6G networks will support safety-critical autonomous systems such as connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs), where security decisions must be made in real time under strict latency and reliability constraints. However, current AI-driven security solutions lack transparency, adaptability, and continuous compliance with evolving threats. This PhD will develop an agentic AI-driven cybersecurity framework that combines:

• Real-time anomaly detection from network telemetry (e.g., RAN and IoT data),
• Explainable AI (XAI) for root-cause analysis,
• Autonomous decision-making agents for dynamic policy enforcement.

The research will explore how distributed AI agents can collaborate across edge–cloud infrastructures to detect and mitigate cyber threats in real time while ensuring trust, interpretability, and low overhead.

University of Reading:

The University of Reading, located west of London, England, is ranked at 194 globally, according to the QS World University Rankings 2026. 98% of research at the University is of international standing (REF 2021, combining the University’s world leading, internationally excellent and internationally recognised submissions). The University’s main Whiteknights Campus is set in 130 hectares of beautiful, award-winning parkland, less than a 30-minute train ride to London Paddington and is approximately 30 miles from London Heathrow airport.

During your PhD at the University of Reading, you will expand your research knowledge and skills, receiving supervision and training in a number of different forms. We also provide dedicated training in important transferable skills that will support your career aspirations. If you need to develop your academic English skills before you start your studies, then the University has an excellent International Study and Language Institute which can help with this.

Eligibility:

• Applicants should have a good bachelor’s degree (minimum of a UK Upper Second (2:1) or equivalent)/master’s degree in Computer Science or a strongly-related discipline.
• International applicants will also need to meet the University’s English Language requirements. We offer pre-sessional English courses that can help with meeting these requirements.

The University of Reading is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and non-discriminatory treatment for all members of its community.

How to apply:

Submit an application for a PhD in Computer Science via our online application system.

Further information:

PhD study in the Department of Computer Science

Enquiries:

Dr. Zahra Pooranian, email: z.pooranian@reading.ac.uk