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We are offering a self-funded PhD position in digital innovation and cultural heritage with the Brunel Business School.

This project seeks to explore how AI can be utilised to enhance the preservation, accessibility, and public engagement of cultural heritage, addressing critical challenges faced by heritage institutions and communities worldwide.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

If you have any questions about the project or would like to arrange an informal discussion, please reach out to Dr Pantea Foroudi at pantea.foroudi@brunel.ac.uk.

The project

As digital transformation accelerates, artificial intelligence (AI) offers unprecedented opportunities to preserve, study, and share cultural heritage in innovative ways.

By using AI, heritage sites, artefacts, and traditions can be digitally documented, analysed, and presented, ensuring they remain accessible and meaningful in the face of rapid global change.

This research will investigate several key areas where AI intersects with cultural heritage, aiming to create a framework for sustainable cultural preservation that embraces digital innovation while respecting the cultural and historical integrity of heritage materials. Key areas of focus include:

1. AI for digital preservation of cultural artefacts: Explore how AI-driven technologies, such as machine learning and computer vision, can assist in the digitisation, restoration, and analysis of physical artefacts, including ancient manuscripts, artwork, and architectural heritage. This will include examining how AI can help detect and repair damage, categorise artefacts, and enhance visual and audio quality while maintaining historical accuracy.
2. Enhancing accessibility to cultural heritage through AI: Assess how AI can make cultural heritage more accessible to diverse audiences, including individuals with disabilities and those located remotely. This area will explore applications like natural language processing for translating historical texts, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) experiences, and AI-powered interfaces that allow interactive engagement with heritage sites and artefacts.
3. AI in heritage storytelling and engagement: Investigate how AI can be used to create engaging, personalised storytelling experiences that bring cultural heritage to life for modern audiences. This includes exploring AI-generated narratives that adapt to individual user preferences, gamified heritage experiences, and AI-driven virtual guides that provide historical context and insights tailored to users’ interests.
4. Ethical considerations in AI and cultural heritage: Examine the ethical implications of using AI in cultural heritage, particularly issues surrounding authenticity, cultural sensitivity, and data ownership. The project will address questions about how to responsibly digitise and share heritage materials and how to protect cultural rights and intellectual property in digital spaces.
5. Collaboration with heritage organisations and local communities: Consider how AI-driven projects can engage with heritage organisations, cultural institutions, and local communities, fostering collaboration that honours the knowledge and traditions of heritage custodians. This area will involve exploring best practices for collaborative projects, including AI-driven tools that respect local contexts and involve communities in the digital preservation process.

Research approach

The student will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining digital analysis with qualitative research. Case studies of heritage institutions using AI for preservation and engagement, interviews with heritage professionals, and surveys of audience responses to AI-enhanced heritage experiences will provide valuable insights. Experimental studies may also be conducted to assess the effectiveness of AI-driven accessibility tools and storytelling applications.

Eligibility

Candidates should have a background in cultural heritage studies, digital humanities, or a related field, with an interest in AI applications. Knowledge of digital preservation methods, cultural sensitivity, and storytelling techniques will support the project’s objectives. Technical skills in AI and machine learning would be beneficial but are not essential.

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: /research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.