Fully Funded PhD Opportunity: Advancing Urban Analytics Through AI-Driven Geodemographic Classification

Are you passionate about using artificial intelligence to transform our understanding of urban environments? The Geographic Data Service (GeoDS) at the University of Liverpool are seeking a talented doctoral researcher to pioneer innovative approaches in geodemographic classification.

The Research Frontier

This cutting-edge project stands at the intersection of artificial intelligence and urban analytics, developing novel methodologies to integrate and analyse diverse urban data sources. In an era where structured socioeconomic data can be combined with rich visual information, we have unprecedented opportunities to enhance our understanding of residential and commercial areas through computational methods.

The successful candidate will develop a groundbreaking multimodal framework that synthesises:

Traditional demographic and economic indicators
Street-level imagery analysis
Advanced AI technologies including deep learning and large language models

Your Research Impact

As the doctoral researcher on this project, you will:

Develop sophisticated methodological approaches for urban data fusion
Train advanced AI models to extract, integrate, and represent urban characteristics across multiple modalities
Create interpretable visualisations and narrative descriptions of geodemographic classifications
Validate your framework through rigorous empirical testing and detailed case studies
Generate actionable insights that can inform evidence-based urban policy and planning

This research positions you to make significant contributions to both the theoretical foundations of AI-driven geodemographics and practical tools that can transform urban planning and policy decisions.

A Supportive Research Environment

This PhD is embedded within the Geographic Data Service (www.geods.ac.uk), a national data service funded by UKRI Smart Data Research UK. Our mission is to maximise the value of diverse and nationally significant Smart Data through geographic integration, enrichment and validation.

As part of our team, you will:

Join a large, collaborative research community at the University of Liverpool
Become part of the renowned Geographic Data Science Lab
Benefit from cohort support and lab activities including seminars, workshops and peer review
Access a dedicated support budget of £5,000 over the duration of your studies

This is an opportunity Home / UK Students Only; with tuition fees covered and a tax free stipend at UKRI rate (for 2025/26 rate – £20,780).

Are You Our Ideal Candidate?

Minimum Qualifications:

Strong undergraduate degree (high 2:1 / 1st) in Geography, Data Science, Computer Science, Urban Studies or a related quantitative discipline
Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R
Familiarity with machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch)
Basic knowledge of geospatial data analysis
Clear communication skills in presenting research
Experience with data handling and statistical methods

Desired Qualifications:

Master’s degree in a relevant field
Experience with advanced machine learning techniques
Familiarity with geodemographic methods and concepts
Experience working with large language models
Image processing skills
Advanced geospatial data expertise
Understanding of urban planning or sociology
Project management and collaboration experience
Previous academic publication experience

Apply Now!

Important Note: Applications may close earlier than the stated deadline if a suitable candidate is identified. We strongly encourage interested applicants to submit their materials as early as possible to ensure consideration.

Please email a one‑page statement outlining your interest in the project and your CV to Professor Alex Singleton (alex.singleton@liverpool.ac.uk) no later than 23rd May 2025. Use the subject line “PhD Application – AI and Geodemographics.

PLEASE NOTE: FUNDING RESTRICTIONS MEAN THIS OPPORTUNITY IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO HOME / UK FEE ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.