treating elements of an image as disposable and interchangeable. The process resembles the ways that material extraction treats nature and entities (including people) as resources to be used or disposed of, and existing research shows that current AI and digital photography are dependent on extractive practices for mineral resources as well as vast amounts of water and energy.
The PhD is part of a team project looking at AI-Assisted Photography in relation to questions of environmental extraction and trained seeing. The successful applicant will be a practice-based researcher interested in working with high-end mobile phone cameras. They will produce a portfolio of critically / theoretically informed visual work exploring the affordances of these phone cameras and (where relevant) the ways in which the cameras and phones are promoted (i.e., corporate publicity materials), and a 40,000 word written dissertation. In addition they will work with the project team (PI plus administrator, 3 PhD students and 3 postdoctoral researchers) to help develop the overall aims of the project, and will be supported to publish written work as part of the team. They will be expected to attend weekly team meetings as well as monthly tutorials.
The successful applicant will be joining a cohort of around 25 PhD students in the Dept. of Communication and Media, in the School of the Arts.
All applications must be submitted via the University of Liverpool Application Portal.
Please apply to PhD Communication & Media, Full-Time, 2026-27. Communication and Media PhD / MPhil | Courses | University of Liverpool
In the research proposal, please set out: a provisional title for the PhD, up to 3 research questions, a description of the project, a brief literature review, a methodology or approach that centres on creative practice research, and an indicative bibliography. As part of the proposal, please explain how you would creatively interrogate the phone models; situate this in relation to your existing or past visual practice; and specify how your project and the research questions will be able to contribute to the overall goals of the larger project (described below).
In the personal statement, please explain why you think you are suited to this project, what you hope to get out of the PhD, the nature of your interest in photography and AI, as well as any unusual aspects of your CV that may need explanation. In the personal statement, applicants are encouraged to include a link to an online portfolio of their visual work. The personal statement should include confirmation that no LLMs or AI models have been used in the writing of it.
The CV should include grades achieved and full range of previous experience, language skills and computer/photographic skills.
Applications will not be assessed using Generative AI. Use of Generative AI is not permitted in any of the writing of the PhD thesis, or any publications associated with the project, and this includes some uses of translation apps. For this reason, candidates must be able to demonstrate a high standard of English. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.
In the section of the application form that asks about funding, please note that you will be applying to the AI-Assisted Photography Studentship.
Start date: 4 Jan 2027
Funding Notes
- This studentship covers full-time tuition fees for 3 years (Home rate fees only) and 3-year stipend at the UKRI rate (currently £21,805 in 2026-27).
- Access to additional funding for conference and relevant event attendance, in the UK and abroad.
- Necessary software and hardware including computer, new models of mobile phone cameras and an external hard-drive.
- Open to UK & Ireland applicants and those eligible for Home rate fees.
