Equity-Oriented Diffusion of Inclusive AI in Marginalised Communities (Fully funded PhD)

About the Project

Project Details

Generative AI is reshaping how people access information, support, and opportunity. Yet the communities who could benefit most are often the last to be reached. Refugees and migrants navigating unfamiliar systems of housing, finance, and employment often rely on digital tools under conditions of uncertainty, unequal access, and institutional constraint, which shape whether digital support can be meaningfully used. This fully funded PhD studentship offers an exceptional opportunity to advance the emerging field of inclusive AI by investigating how community-grounded, multilingual, and culturally responsive GAI tools diffuse (or fail to diffuse) within marginalised refugee and migrant communities.

The project’s theoretical ambition is to explain whether/how GAI diffusion differs in important ways from earlier forms of ICT diffusion in marginalised communities. Unlike more static digital tools, GAI systems generate probabilistic outputs, rely on opaque data infrastructures, and raise particular concerns around reliability, language bias, and cultural fit. These characteristics shape adoption in ways that classical diffusion of innovation theory does not fully capture, and that the inclusive innovation literature has not yet adequately theorised. In response, the project aims to develop a mid-range framework of equity-oriented diffusion to explain how community trust networks, organisational intermediaries, and structural inequalities shape the adoption and circulation of GAI in marginalised settings. In doing so, it will connect innovation studies to contemporary debates on AI equity, data justice, and epistemic injustice. Methodologically, the project will adopt a research-oriented action research method, with iterative cycles co-produced with refugees, frontline practitioners, and AI developers.

The student will be embedded within ACH across Birmingham and Bristol, undertaking longitudinal fieldwork through repeated phases of co-design, intervention deployment, observation, and reflection. This approach will position the researcher both as a close observer of community-based technology adoption and as a collaborative partner in the redesign of inclusive AI services.

The studentship will make three main contributions. First, it will develop a theoretical framework of equity-oriented diffusion that reframes inclusive AI adoption in marginalised contexts. Second, it will generate longitudinal, multi-site empirical evidence on how GAI is adopted, adapted, and circulated within refugee communities. Third, it will produce a practical approach for NGOs, local authorities, and financial institutions seeking to implement inclusive AI responsibly and effectively. The research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 4, 8, 10, and 16, as well as Aston University’s 2030 commitment to inclusive, entrepreneurial, and transformational research. What makes this studentship especially compelling is the close alignment between academic innovation and social impact. Findings will be co-produced with refugees and frontline practitioners, published in leading journals, and used directly by ACH and partner organisations to inform service redesign.

The student will be supervised by Dr Shuai Qin (primary supervisor), whose research centres on inclusive entrepreneurship, inclusive innovation, and technology adoption in marginalised communities, and by Professor Monder Ram OBE DL (co-supervisor), a world-leading scholar in ethnic minority entrepreneurship with extensive expertise in inclusive entrepreneurship, small business management, and engaged scholarship.

Person Specification

The successful applicant should hold, or expect to achieve:

A First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, and a Masters degree with Merit or Distinction, both in relevant subjects, such as innovation studies, sociology, migration studies, management, organisation studies, human geography, digital sociology, public policy, development studies, education, information systems, or other related social science and humanities disciplines.

A clear interest in one or more of the following areas: generative AI, inclusive innovation, technology adoption, digital inequality, refugee and migrant inclusion, community based service provision, or social and organisational change.

Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to engage with theoretical debates and interpret complex social, organisational, and policy issues.

Good communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage professionally and sensitively with external partners.

Strong written skills, including the ability to produce clear academic writing and communicate findings to both scholarly and practitioner audiences.

Qualifications from overseas institutions will be considered, but performance must be equivalent to that described above, and the University reserves the right to ascertain this equivalence according to its own criteria.

Submitting an application

We can only consider applications that are complete and have all supporting documents. Applications that do not provide all the relevant documents will be automatically rejected.Your application must include:

1. English language copies of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees, including any Bachelor degrees.
2. A Research Statement detailing your understanding of the research area, how you would approach the project, and a brief review of relevant literature. Be sure to use the title of the research project you are applying for. There is no set format or word count.
3. A personal statement which outlines any further information which you think is relevant to your application, such as your personal suitability for research, career aspirations, possible future research interests, and further description of relevant employment experience.
4. A Curriculum Vitae (Resume) which details your education and work history.
5. Two academic refereeswho can discuss your suitability for independent research. References must be on headed paper, signed and dated no more than 2 years old. At least one reference should be from your most recent University. You can submit your references at a later date if necessary.
6. Evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. If you do not currently meet the language requirements, you can submit this at a later stage.
7. A copy of your passport. Where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status.

Contact Information

For enquiries about this project, contact s.qin2@aston.ac.uk or m.ram1@aston.ac.uk

Location

This position will be based on the Aston Campus in Birmingham, UK. The successful candidate will need to be located within a reasonable distance of the campus, and will be expected to visit in person regularly.

Interviews

Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted directly with details of the interview.

Funding Notes

This project covers all tuition fees and includes an annual stipend.

Please note that the successful candidate will be responsible for any costs relating to moving to Birmingham and/or visiting the Aston campus. International students must meet the financial requirements for the visa, flights, and NHS Surcharge. Applicants should be confident that they can meet these costs before applying.