Fully Funded PhD in Classics & Archaeology – University of Nottingham & The British Museum, UK

About the Program

The University of Nottingham and The British Museum invite applications for a fully funded AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) PhD studentship beginning in October 2025. The project aims to apply Generative AI tools to the analysis of the Vindolanda tablets—an invaluable collection of handwritten Roman texts from Britain. This interdisciplinary opportunity allows the successful candidate to work across Classics, Archaeology, and Artificial Intelligence to advance digital decipherment methods for ancient texts. The student will be jointly supervised by leading experts and will conduct research at both institutions.

Program Details

Position: Fully-funded PhD Position / Doctoral Researcher
Institution: University of Nottingham & The British Museum
Department/Faculty: Department of Classics and Archaeology
Supervisors: Prof. Alex Mullen (UoN), Dr Richard Hobbs (BM), Dr Kai Xu (UoN)
Location: Nottingham and London, United Kingdom
Start Date (Anticipated): 1 October 2025
Duration: 4 years (full-time) or part-time equivalent up to 8 years
Funding: Fully funded by AHRC CDP scheme
Working Hours: Full-time or part-time
Required Degree/Diploma: Master’s

Research Focus

Digital epigraphy and Roman handwritten texts
Generative AI applications (e.g. GPT-4o)
Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR)
Fragment reassembly and palimpsest decoding
Vindolanda tablets and Roman Britain
Machine learning in cultural heritage

Eligibility & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

Master’s degree or equivalent in Classics, Archaeology, Ancient History, Computer Science, or Cultural Heritage
Strong interest in the use of AI in heritage or ancient texts
Open to Home and International students
Must meet UKRI residency and funding criteria

Preferred Qualifications:

Digital humanities or machine learning background
Experience in image or text recognition
Demonstrated interest in Roman epigraphy or computational archaeology
Willingness to work collaboratively between university and museum settings

Key Features of the Program

Collaborative doctoral supervision between UoN and The British Museum
Access to the Vindolanda archive, Roman epigraphy experts, and museum resources
Training at the Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents (Oxford) and optional fieldwork at Vindolanda
Tax-free stipend of £20,780/year + £1,000 London allowance + £600 CDP top-up
Additional support: travel grant (£1,500/year) and Research Training Support Grant (£750/year)
Access to the AHRC CDP cohort network across the UK

Application Process

How to Apply:

Submit your application via the official University of Nottingham portal. All applicants are also requested to complete an anonymous EDI monitoring form.