ERC PhD studentship: The Ethics and Philosophy of Science of Machine Learning

This is a four-year ERC funded PhD studentship (starting in September 2026).

About the studentship

The same machine learning (ML) methods that are unprecedently used across large areas of science are also wide ranging across society. ML models are determining what news we see, risk scores for fraud, and more. LLMs are structuring our knowledge with ChatGPT integrated in search engines and information platforms, even despite well documented cases of ChatGPT ‘hallucinations.’ 

Current approaches to evaluating ML models in society have clustered around issues of fairness, bias, problems of justice by introducing ML models at scale, the right to explanation, and more. While all these issues remain important, there is a deep worry that ML models might not be providing us with genuine information or knowledge in the first place. Before we can make informed decisions about when and where ML models should be used across society, we need to understand their epistemic value. 

The aim of the PhD project is to bring methods and resources from philosophy of science (e.g. idealization and representation) to answer important questions in AI ethics regarding appropriate use of ML models in society. How do ML models idealize social phenomena? When do the idealizations of ML models get in the way of acceptable use? 

This PhD project is part of the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant project Machine Learning in Science and Society: A Dangerous Toy? (TOY) The project team consists of the PI (Emily Sullivan), this PhD position, and two forthcoming post-doc positions.

This is a four-year ERC funded PhD studentship (starting in September 2026).

The successful PhD candidate will join a vibrant academic PhD community in the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences (PPLS) in the Philosophy department and in The Centre for Technomoral Futures in the Edinburgh Futures Institute. 

Supervisory Team

  • Emily Sullivan (PI & Principal Supervisor), Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Philosophy Department of PPLS and the Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh.

The successful PhD candidate will also have the opportunity to choose a second-supervisor from within the university and will work closely with two postdoctoral researchers to be hired on the project.

The successful applicant will receive a scholarship to cover tuition fees as well as a stipend at the UKRI minimum stipend rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/2026) for up to 4 years subject to satisfactory progress.


The award is open to UK and overseas students applying to start their first year of study for an on-campus PhD in Philosophy in academic year 2026/2027.


Each applicant must have:

  • A Master’s degree in philosophy or related discipline by the start of the appointment.
  • An interest in at least two of the following areas: philosophy of science, epistemology, philosophy of technology, political philosophy, normative ethics, ethics of AI, or public policy.
  • A research-oriented attitude.
  • Proof that the applicant meets the English language entry requirements for PhD Philosophy. 

The successful candidate is expected to start their PhD programme on Monday 14th September 2026.


Applicants must submit an application to PPLS PG Enquiries (pplspgoffice@ed.ac.uk) by 23:59 (UK Time) on Monday 16th March 2026. The application package must include:

  • a personal statement stating reasons for applying for this post, and relevant qualifications that render the applicant suitable for this role,
  • academic CV,
  • graduation certificates for undergraduate degree(s) and postgraduate degree(s) if applicable,
  • transcripts for undergraduate degree(s) and postgraduate degree(s) if applicable,
  • official translations of the above two documents in English if the original copies are not in English,
  • two academic reference letters,
  • academic writing sample, no more than 10,000 words.

To formally apply for this position, please send your application package to PPLS PG Enquiries (pplspgoffice@ed.ac.uk) citing the reference code: ERC-TOY-PHD in the message subject. Please ensure that you include this reference code and your surname in all file name extensions attached to your application.

Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline (Monday 16th March 2026). The top candidates will be invited to interview. Interviews for this studentship will be held in April 2026. We will aim to inform applicants about the outcome of their interview by the end of April 2026.


A selection committee within the Philosophy department will rank eligible applications primarily in terms of the academic quality of the applicant, with some attention also given to fit within the project. The highest ranked applicant will be offered the scholarship. The committee aims to inform the successful applicant by the end of April 2026. Should the initial applicant decline, the award will cascade to the next highest ranked applicant.


For informal enquiries about this position, please contact Dr. Emily Sullivan (e.e.sullivan@ed.ac.uk)


This article was published on