Developing and Evaluating AI-Assisted Tools to Improve Collateral History Collection and Diagnostic Pathways in Dementia Care

About the Project

Are you interested in using artificial intelligence to improve dementia care? We are offering an interdisciplinary PhD at Newcastle focused on developing and evaluating LUMEN, an AI-assisted tool designed to improve how memory clinics collect collateral history from family members and other carers.

Collateral history is essential to dementia diagnosis, but it is often difficult to obtain consistently in routine practice. Carers may feel stressed when trying to summarise changes in memory, behaviour and daily function during clinic appointments, while clinicians must work with information that can be variable in detail and structure. LUMEN is being developed to support carers to provide this information before assessment through a structured, conversational interface that produces a clinician-readable summary.

The PhD student will work at the interface of dementia research, clinical AI, digital health and implementation science. You will help refine the tool through co-production with carers, patients and clinicians; evaluate usability, acceptability and workflow fit in memory clinic settings; and undertake analytical work to assess the quality, inclusivity and clinical usefulness of LUMEN’s outputs. The project will combine qualitative and quantitative methods and provide opportunities to contribute to the future translation of trustworthy AI into NHS services.

You will be supervised by an experienced interdisciplinary team: Dr Judith Harrison (clinical academic psychiatrist and dementia researcher), Professor Edward Meinert (digital health and clinical AI), Dr Huizhi Liang (natural language processing and machine learning), and Professor John-Paul Taylor (clinical neuroscience and dementia research).

This project would suit applicants with a background in neuroscience, psychology, medicine, data science, computer science, digital health or a related discipline, and an interest in improving real-world healthcare through research. Experience in qualitative or quantitative methods, coding, AI/ML, or health services research would be advantageous, but we welcome applicants from different backgrounds who are excited by interdisciplinary training.

The studentship offers the chance to contribute to an important and fast-moving area of research with clear clinical relevance and strong potential for future impact across dementia care.

Funding

Students who have, or are expecting to attain, at least an upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, are invited to apply. Funding is available for Home (UK) students to cover tuition fees, a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (indicative amount in year 1 in 2026-27, £21,805) and research costs, for four years. Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates. There is no additional funding available to cover NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) costs, visa costs, flights etc.

Funding for this studentship is awarded on a competitive basis and is not guaranteed; availability will depend on the outcome of the selection process and subject to final approval by the University.

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete the following application form – Google Form

**Applicants can only apply for 1 project; any additional applications will not be accepted.**

Applicants should send the following documents to FMSstudentships@newcastle.ac.uk:

• a CV (including contact details of at least two academic (or other relevant) referees).
• a Cover letter – stating your project choice, as well as including additional information you feel is pertinent to your application.
• copies of your relevant undergraduate degree transcripts and certificates.
• a copy of your IELTS or TOEFL English language certificate (where required)
• a copy of your passport (photo page).

A GUIDE TO THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE

Please submit your documents in the following format only:

• each document should be submitted *as a separate attachment* and should be named as follows: candidate surname, candidate name – document type. For example: Jones, Jamie – CV; Jones, Jamie – cover letter.
• Please submit .pdf documents where possible for your CV, cover letter, transcripts and certificates. Do not submit photos of certificates.
• Do not combine documents into one pdf. You may zip separate documents into a zip file to send via email if required.
• When emailing your application, please use the email subject header: FMS PhD Application 2026

Applications not meeting these criteria may be rejected.

Informal enquiries may be made to the lead supervisor of the project you are interested in.

**The deadline for all applications is 12 noon BST (UK time) on Wednesday 20th May 2026.**