PhD Scholarship: Building Deep Debate Evidence Systems for Youth Crime Policy Reform

The research will be undertaken within the School of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at Griffith University, in the Responsible Big Data Lab, which focuses on agentic AI, meta-learning, recommender systems, and the responsible use of large-scale data.

This opportunity will be primarily based at Gold Coast. As Griffith is a multi-site University you may be required to work across other locations. Griffith University's sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

We are currently looking for a PhD candidate to research the design, evaluation, and deployment of trustworthy agentic AI systems. The primary focus of this role is to develop new methods that allow autonomous, LLM-driven agents to reason, adapt, and make reliable decisions under real-world distribution shift and uncertainty. This project includes building multi-agent architectures, designing rigorous evaluation frameworks for agent behaviour, and validating these methods on practical tasks such as data preparation, retrieval, and decision support. Success in this role requires collaboration with the supervisory team and other researchers in the Responsible Big Data Lab, as well as academic and industry partners associated with the project.

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. To be successful within this role, you will be able to demonstrate strong analytical and programming skills, work independently and as part of a research team, communicate research findings clearly in writing and in presentations, and engage critically with current literature in machine learning and AI. You will have evidence of a passion for artificial intelligence and its responsible, real-world application, with a strong desire to undertake research in agentic AI systems, machine learning, and the evaluation of intelligent autonomous systems.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and international applicants.
• Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a Bachelor degree with first-class honours or second-class honours (Division A) or a Masters degree, incorporating a significant research component, from a recognised institution; or
• A record of research, or a qualification granted by a professional or other body deemed by the Dean, Griffith Graduate Research School, to be of a standard comparable to a Bachelor degree with second-class honours (Division A). For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer https://www.griffith.edu.au/study/degrees/doctor-of-philosophy-6001

International applicants should ensure that English Language Proficiency requirements for the program are met before formally applying. See https://www.griffith.edu.au/study/degrees/doctor-of-philosophy-6001.

About the scholarship
The 2026 Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship has an annual stipend of $35,656 (indexed) for a period of up to three years of full-time study. Please see the GUPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

A successful International applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years full time study. Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

What Griffith offers
As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we've worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

EOI Process
Please do not select the "APPLY" button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to Dr. Thanh Tam Nguyen [email protected] containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the about you section
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• Names of two referees

Closing date for expressions of interest is: Sunday 5 July 2026 11.59pm AEST

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line.

For project related enquiries please contact:
Dr. Thanh Tam Nguyen
Phone: (07) 5552 8738
Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Phone: (07) 3735 3817
Email: [email protected]