PhD Studentship: AI-Augmented Group Model Building: Evaluating Generative AI as a Co-Facilitator for Participatory Modelling of Complex Socio-Technical Challenges

Project summary: This PhD develops and evaluates a GPT-based AI co-facilitator for Group Model Building (GMB) workshops, supporting stakeholders in constructing Causal Loop Diagrams of complex socio-technical problems. The project compares traditional and AI-integrated workshops to assess impacts on modelling accuracy, inclusivity, participant experience, and the accessibility of systems thinking for non-expert audiences.

Subject areas: Accounting, Business, Computer Science, E Business, Economics, Environmental Sciences, Finance, Hospitality, Human Resource Management, Information Services, Management, Marketing, Project Management, Tourism

Start date: 1st October 2026

Deadline: 30th April

Duration: 36 months

Funding: Funded

Funding towards:

• Home fee/international fee
• Stipend - UKRI stipend rate for UK students.

Funding details: Fully-funded scholarship for 3 years covers all university tuition fees (at UK level) and an annual tax-free stipend. International students are also eligible to apply, but they will need to find other funding sources to cover the difference between the home and international tuition fees. Exceptional international candidates may be provided funding for this difference.

Number of places: 1

Number of places extra: There will be a shortlisting and interview process.

RCUK eligibility: No

Eligibility:

Applicants should hold, or expect to hold, a first-class or upper second-class Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline such as Management Science/Operational Research, Computer Science, Behavioural & Psychological Science, or related fields. A Master’s degree or professional experience in areas such as systems thinking, AI, behavioural & psychological science is advantageous. Strong analytical and communication skills are essential. The standard Strathclyde Business School eligibility criteria apply, see full advert: https://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/postgraduateresearchphdopportunities/business/managementscience/ai-augmentedgroupmodelbuilding/

Study modes eligibility: Full-time

Fee Status:

• Home
• International

Project Details: Group Model Building (GMB) is a participatory systems dynamics method in which stakeholders collaboratively construct Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) to understand complex social problems. While powerful, GMB depends heavily on skilled facilitators and loses momentum once workshops end. This PhD addresses these limitations by developing a GPT-based AI co-facilitator for live GMB workshops. The AI processes real-time discussion via speech-to-text, suggests causal links, proposes feedback loops, and visualises draft CLDs — while keeping interpretive authority with participants. A post-workshop conversational interface will enable continued model refinement, extending engagement beyond the session. The project also evaluates AI-generated plain-language narratives from CLDs, making complex systems insights accessible to policymakers and public audiences. Using a mixed-methods, socio-technical design, 4–6 comparative workshops (traditional vs AI-integrated) will be conducted with participants from domains such as healthcare and urban planning. Findings will be synthesised into an open-source, replicable framework for ethical human–AI co-facilitation in participatory modelling.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Le Nguyen (Management Science, Strathclyde Business School)

Additional Supervisor/s: Prof Viktor Dorfler (Management Science, Strathclyde Business School); Dr Esmaeil Khedmati Morasae (Management Science, Strathclyde Business School); Prof Nav Mustafee (Analytics and Operations Management, University of Exeter).