We are working to create a world-class Data Science and AI @ Lancaster Institute (DSAIL) that sets the global standard for a truly interdisciplinary approach to contemporary data-driven research challenges. DSAIL aims to have an internationally recognised and distinctive strength in being able to provide an end-to-end interdisciplinary research capability - from infrastructure and fundamentals through to globally relevant problem domains and the social, legal and ethical issues raised by the use of Data Science.

The Institute is initially focusing on the fundamentals of Data Science and AI including security and privacy together with cross-cutting theme areas consisting of environment, resilience and sustainability; health and ageing, data and society and creating a world-leading institute with over 350 affiliated academics, researchers, and students.

Our data science, AI, health data science and business analytics programmes have launched the careers of hundreds of data professionals over the last 10 years. Students from our programmes have progressed to data science roles at Amazon, PWC, Ernst & Young, Hawaiian Airlines, eBay, Zurich Insurance, the Co-operative Group, N Brown, the NHS and many others - please look at our Education pages for further details of the courses on offer.

2. Available Studentships & What They Cover

Each EPSRC DLA studentship provides:

• 3.5 years of Home tuition fees and stipend at the UKRI minimum rate.
• £1,000 per annum Research Training Support Grant (RTSG).

Up to 30% of the total EPSRC DLA studentships across the Faculty may be offered to Overseas candidates, subject to Faculty approval to ensure the overall cap is not exceeded. If you intend to target an Overseas student, please flag this clearly in your proposal.

3. EPSRC Remit and Eligibility

Projects must sit squarely within the EPSRC remit (Engineering & Physical Sciences). If your topic is borderline, you must justify the EPSRC alignment explicitly. Interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged, provided the core research questions and methods remain predominantly within EPSRC scope.

Supervisory teams must include at least one member of DSAIL. Cross-departmental teams are strongly encouraged. Early Career Researchers are encouraged to apply and may co-lead proposals with appropriate mentorship.

4. Collaborative Requirement (Doctoral Landscape Award)

EPSRC expects at least 25% of studentships funded through the DLA to include a substantive collaborative component. For this call, you are strongly encouraged to embed a collaboration from the outset. Collaboration is defined as:

Working with one or more external non-academic partners who take an active role in the direction and outputs of the doctoral project and provide cash and/or in-kind contributions.

There is no minimum monetary value stipulated, but proposals should articulate:

• The partner organisation(s) and their sector.
• Nature and scale of contributions (cash, data, staff time, facilities, placements, etc.).
• Planned mechanisms for steering/project governance (e.g. quarterly meetings, joint supervision).
• Expected mutual benefits and impact pathways.

If collaboration cannot be confirmed before submission, outline a credible plan and timeline to secure it during the studentship.

5. Proposal Requirements (MAXIMUM 3 PAGES)

Submissions must not exceed three A4 pages (minimum 11pt font, standard margins). A separate reference list (optional, max ½ page) will not count towards the limit.

Please structure your proposal using the following headings:

1. Project Title
2. Supervisory Team (names, departments/schools, roles; indicate ECR status where relevant)
3. EPSRC Remit & Fit (succinct justification)
4. Rationale & Objectives (key research questions, novelty, expected contributions)
5. Methodology & Data/Resources (core methods, datasets, infrastructure)
6. Collaboration Plan (partner(s), contributions, engagement model; or plan to secure)
7. Cross-Disciplinary Elements (how the work spans disciplines and why this matters)
8. Impact & Alignment with DSAIL/University Strategies
9. Student Development & Training (planned skills training, placements, cohort activities)
10. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Considerations (brief statement on inclusive recruitment and supervision)

Optional: References (½ page max).

Submissions that fail to comply with the page limit or required headings may be returned without review.

6. Selection Criteria

Proposals will be assessed by a DSAIL panel (augmented as needed for domain expertise) using the following criteria:

1. Fit to EPSRC remit (pass/fail).
2. Quality and novelty of the research (scientific excellence, clarity of objectives).
3. Strength and credibility of the collaborative element (partner engagement, contributions, governance).
4. Cross-disciplinarity and alignment with DSAIL’s mission (breadth/ depth of disciplinary integration).
5. Feasibility and supervisory capacity (methods, resources, training environment, track record/mentorship plan).
6. Impact potential (academic, industrial/societal, REF alignment).
7. Student experience & development (training, placements, cohort activities).

Where proposals are otherwise equal, those demonstrating stronger cross-disciplinary reach and/or collaboration will be prioritised.

7. Submission Process

• Format: Single PDF, 3 pages (plus optional references).
• File name convention: DSAIL_DLA26_Surname_ShortTitle.pdf.
• How to submit: Email the PDF to dsail@lancaster.ac.uk with subject line: “DSAIL EPSRC DLA Proposal 2026 – [PI Surname]”.
• Deadline: 17:00 (BST), 16^th April 2026. Late submissions will not be considered without prior agreement.

This year’s particular theme will be protection, privacy, and proactive synthesis.

In different words, we’re looking at questions like: is it possible to protect our voices from malicious actors who might want to clone us whilst still being recognisable to people around us? And further along the scale, can AI keep our identities fully withheld in sensitive contexts such as when we’re giving anonymous tip-offs, providing evidence in risky criminal proceedings, or even working undercover? And how much of our linguistic output do we need to think about when attempting this? We’ll start the summer school with interactive experiments and bring you back the results by the end. What will those experiments be? Well, you’ll have to attend to find out more.

Note that if you attended the in-person event in 2025, to keep it inclusive and accessible, we recap some of the same basic concepts, but then we move into new territory.

📎 More information: https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/factor/summer-school/ss2026/
🎟️ Book your place: https://lancasteruk.estore.flywire.com/products/factor-forensic-linguistics--speech-science-summer-school-2025-311382

Note that last year, tickets sold out a few weeks before the event. (We knew it was going to be big but even we were surprised at how fast they disappeared.) All that to say, if you’ve been waiting for some sort of cosmic Bat Signal, here it is.