We are training the next generation of researchers and innovators in designing responsible and trustworthy natural language processing
The UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Responsible and Trustworthy in-the-world NLP is based at the University of Edinburgh. Applications are now open for funded PhD studentships starting as part of the September 2025 cohort. Our deadline is 9th January 2025.
Our CDT is based in the Edinburgh Futures Institute – the University of Edinburgh’s brand new hub for research, innovation and teaching focused on socially just artificial intelligence and data.
Skills Domains
Our CDT has five core skills domains that represent the skills needed to ensure NLP systems are responsibly designed, deployed and overseen, and trusted by citizens and societies
Responsible NLP data and models
Our students will develop techniques for building and curating inclusive and diverse datasets, as well as practices leading to fairer and less biased models.
Explainable NLP for users in-the-world
Our students will be trained in visualisation techniques that enable end-users to examine datasets and models, using NLP-based techniques to provide human-readable explanations of datasets and AI models.
Designing for Human-NLP partnership
Our students will use new human-centered methods to create adaptable human-AI partnership systems (e.g., human-in-the-loop, human-NLP teams).
NLP governance and accountability
Responsibly deploying NLP requires understanding the intersect with current (IPR, GDPR, Equalities, Copyright) and emerging (EU AI) laws and governance.
Co-creation and NLP futures
Our students will develop new design methods that enable diverse members of society to shape the technical and design decisions surrounding future applications of NLP.
Our Partners
We have a large and diverse community of partners that are collaborating with us to train our students, and to also help shape the future adoption of NLP. Partners will offer students project challenges, placements and internships, and will also participate in a new community of practice around responsible NLP.
Our partner represent industry at the cutting edge of NLP developments (such as Microsoft Research, Amazon, Cohere, DeepMind) and those looking to adopt these systems at scale for real-world applications (such as NatWest Group, abrdn, Police Scotland, National Museums of Scotland, amongst many others). We are alson working closely with advocacy groups and policy making organisations, such as Ada Lovelace Institute, DCMS and the Office for AI, OFCOM, and the Alan Turing Institute.
See our CDT Partners page for more information.
Would you like to keep in touch on progress?
If you are a prospective applicant and would like to hear more, please complete our Expression of Interest form: