Vacancies

We have vacancies for both new PhD and visiting students at Sheffield.

University of Sheffield is ranked as top 10 in the UK for research in relevant AI/CV/NLP/ML/Complexity areas CSRanking.

Funded project

1. EPSRC landscape awarded project

• Project title: Advancing ECG Interpretation with Human-Centred Multi-modal AI
• Project Description: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of global mortality, accounting for 32% of all deaths worldwide. Despite their diagnostic potential, electrocardiograms (ECGs) suffer from underutilization, with physicians achieving an average interpretation accuracy of just 54%. Medical errors, increasingly recognized as a critical public health issue, are the third leading cause of death in the United States. This PhD project aims to address these pressing challenges through Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HCAI). While preliminary AI solutions exist for ECG digitisation, diagnosis, and prognosis, recent findings (including a 2024 AI-ECG survey) highlight critical limitations in current tools, such as poor image quality, algorithmic bias, and inadequate validation. To bridge these gaps, this project will focus on developing adaptive HCAI applications that synergize human and machine intelligence, enhancing both diagnostic accuracy and system robustness.
• As a PhD student, you will:
  • Develop expertise in signal processing, machine learning, computer vision, multi-modal AI, and large language models applied to cardiac care.
  • Contribute to cutting-edge research projects in ECG analysis to advance reliable and interpretable AI systems.
  • Align your research focus with your personal interests and expertise, ensuring your unique perspective shapes the project’s direction.
• Funding Details: This EPSRC-funded project provides:
  • Full tuition fee waiver for UK and overseas students.
  • UKRI stipend (£19,237 per annum, current rate) for 3.5 years.
  • £4500 Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) for research enhancement.
• Requirements:
  • Passion: Strong passion for AI for healthcare
  • Excelence: a First Class or Distinction Masters level degree, or equivalent, in a relevant scientific or technical discipline. Strong problem-solving abilities and learning capability, such as top xx%, ranking xx out of xx, in your previous studies.
  • Skillful: Proficiency in programming (Python, C++, etc) and in English reading & writing. First-authored relative publication in top-tier journals and conferences are preferred.
• Starting date: Oct, 2025 (fixed)
• How to apply:
  • Please send me your CV (grade, ranking, research experience included), transcripts, first-authored papers/thesis (please merge all into one single file) and other supporting materials (such as slides to show your research experience, or github website to show your past projects), to enquiry.ai4health@gmail.com. Please quote “[PHD_EPSRC_AI4ECG]-Your Current Programme – Name”. E.g, “[PHD_EPSRC_AI4ECG] - MSc-University of Sheffield–Chen Chen” in your email subject.
  • Due to the high volume of emails I receive, emails without strictly having this quote in the subject title may be automatically classified as spam and ignored. So please help me to catch up your email. I am sorry that it is difficult to provide feedback to every applicant. Only shortlisted candidates will be noticed. Please understand that failing to receive my response does not reflect your qualifications or potential for other PhD programs.

2. AI for Multi-modal Healthcare

• Project description: In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as foundation models, multi-modal learning algorithms, generative models, and large language models [1], have made seen remarkable advancements in the field of healthcare. It can lead to more accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment planning, and improved patient outcomes. This project will focus on developing multi-modal AI models that can handle the complexities of medical data as well as the domain gap and knowledge gap across different scenarios, and further adapt to individual patient needs. Depending on the profile of the student, a particular focus would be utilizing large language models and explainable AI (XAI) to enhance the reliability and applicability of AI algorithms for healthcare applications [2] and/or identifying pitfalls of current AI models using adversarial machine learning.

• References
  • [1] Moor, M, et al. Foundation models for generalist medical artificial intelligence. Nature, 2023
  • [2] Chen, Chen, et al. “Large Language Model-informed ECG Dual Attention Network for Heart Failure Risk Prediction.” 2024

• Funding notes: The PhD studentship will cover standard UK home tuition fees and provide a tax-free stipend at the standard UK Research Council rate (currently £19,237 for the 2024/25 academic year) for 3.5 years. If you are an overseas student, you are eligible to apply but you must have the means to pay the difference between the UK and overseas tuition fees by securing additional funding or self-funding. Further information on International fees can be found here.

• How to apply:
  • Please send me your CV (grade, ranking, research experience included), transcripts, first-authored papers/thesis (please merge all into one single file) and other supporting materials (such as slides to show your research experience, or github website to show your past projects), to enquiry.ai4health@gmail.com. Please quote “[PHD_AI4Health] - Your Current Programme – Name-You Preferred Starting Date”. E.g, “[PHD_AI4Health] - MSc-University of Sheffield–Chen Chen-2025 Spring” in your email subject.
  • Due to the high volume of emails I receive, emails without strictly having this quote in the subject title may be automatically classified as spam and ignored. So please help me to catch up your email. I am sorry that it is difficult to provide feedback to every applicant. Only shortlisted candidates will be noticed (usually within 1-2 weeks, you will receive my response asking you to fill a Google form for the next step). Please understand that failing to receive my response does not reflect your qualifications or potential for other PhD programs.

Others Scholarships

China Scholarship Council (CSC) Scholarships

• for Chinese applicants details. Please make sure that your have passed the English requirement before the internal selection, usually in Jan 2025. In our School of Computer Science, a minimum of IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each component or equivalent is required. Alternative language test includes PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI, which offers more flexibility in terms of test dates. check here for other acceptable test results.

Commonwealth Phd Scholarship

• for both students from certain low-income countries and certain high-income contries

University Scholarships

• details

External Project Opportunities We are also happy to support strong applicants for their applications via external funding body, with industry partners.

• royalcommission1851.org. Please note that this is very competitive. The applicant must have a good first degree in engineering, science, medicine or design. At the time of applying, you must be (1): currently employed by a UK-based company or (2) 1-year or 2-year CDT/Case PhD students strongly coupled with company in UK; and working on a research and/or development topic potentially leading to a patent, product, process or service in conjunction with a higher academic award.

Visiting opportunities

Visiting students (3 month - 1 year)

• Our sheffield computer vision group has vacancies for visiting students.
• You have to be registered on a PhD at another institution to undertake research as a visiting student.
• You need to meet the university’s English requirements
• Tuition fees: You can register for up to three months without a tuition fee being charged. Subject to departmental and faculty approval, in exceptional circumstances the fee-free registration period may be extended to a maximum of twelve months.
• Funding opportunities
  • Research Mobility Programme. This program provides 2 weeks to 3 months for Staff and PGs to work with hosts in any WUN partner details.
  • China Scholarship Council
  • Commonwealth Split-site PhD Scholarship

About University of Sheffield and Sheffield

University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is renowned for its groundbreaking research, with a legacy of producing Nobel Prize winners and global thought leaders. Six members of our staff have been awarded a prestigious Nobel Prize. Notable alumni include Sir Harry Kroto, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of fullerenes, showcasing Sheffield’s role in pioneering research that transforms the scientific world. Sheffield’s research excellence spans across disciplines, including science, engineering, medicine, and social sciences, consistently ranked in the top universities globally for research impact.

The university also provides strong professional development support, with comprehensive training programs, research community and workshops that help students enhance their research skills, gain expertise in cutting-edge methodologies, and prepare for careers in both academia and industry. Sheffield’s vibrant academic community regularly hosts seminars, conferences, and networking events, creating opportunities for you to present your work, receive feedback, and build valuable connections with leading researchers.

Relevant research communities in the University:

1. Workshop on Multimodal AI is held in Sheffield annually.link
2. The Insigneo Institute is driving innovative research at the interface of healthcare, engineering and science to transform the future of healthcare technology.link
3. The EPSRC funded South Yorkshire Digital Health Hub will use cutting-edge research to develop innovative digital technologies for disease diagnosis and treatment by leveraging smartphone, wearable, and sensor data alongside NHS data to create new clinical tools.link
4. The Healthy Lifespan Institute is transforming the experience of ageing. We’re the UK’s first interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding and preventing multimorbidity and frailty - to help everyone live healthier lives for longer. link

Where are we?

Living in the Sheffield

The balance of city life and natural beauty is one of Sheffield’s key attractions. It’s a friendly, safe, and inclusive city that offers something for everyone—whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in academic life or explore new hobbies. The city is culturally rich, with a thriving arts scene, music venues, and a vibrant café culture, providing plenty of ways to unwind and socialize. For nature lovers, Sheffield is known as the “Outdoor City”, with the beautiful Peak District National Park on its doorstep (e.g., 20 minutes by bus/train), offering a perfect escape for hiking, climbing, and cycling.

Sheffield’s public transport is well-developed, making it easy to get around the city and beyond. Plus, with major cities like Manchester and Leeds close by, and London only two hours away by train, Sheffield offers excellent connectivity.

Sheffield is considered to be more affordable than other cities in the UK. Cost of Living Including Rent in Sheffield is 41.6% lower than in London. See details.