Funding

Funded (UK students only)

Project code

CCJ50810226

Start dates

October 2026

Application deadline

27 February 2026

Applications are invited for a fully-funded 3.5 year PhD to commence in October 2026.

The University of Portsmouth (UoP) and Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Western Australia have established a Dual Award PhD Programme that brings together the research strengths of both institutions. This programme allows you to pursue doctoral studies while benefiting from the expertise, facilities, and support services of two innovative universities. You’ll gain valuable international research experience and graduate with a truly global perspective.

  • You’ll register for and, if successful, receive a PhD from both universities.
  • You’ll be jointly supervised and have access to the research expertise, infrastructure, and support services of both universities.
  • You’ll begin your studies in your ‘home’ institution, where your first supervisor will be based, but will spend a minimum of 12 months abroad in your ‘host’ institution, where your second supervisor will be based.

The PhD will be based in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (UoP) and School of Arts and Humanities (ECU), and will be supervised by Dr Aram Ghaemmaghami (UoP), Dr Jamal Barnes (ECU), Dr Claire Fitzpatrick (ECU), and Professor Lisa Sugiura (UoP).

Candidates applying for this project will be eligible to compete for a fully-funded PhD bursary. Successful applicants will receive a bursary to cover tuition fees for 3.5 years and a stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26). Bursary recipients will also receive a £1,500 p.a. research allowance for project costs/consumables. 

This project also includes placement expenses of up to £3000*, to contribute to the bursary holder’s travel/visa/health insurance costs during their 12 months abroad. (*Dependents’ costs are not covered.)

This funded PhD is only open to new, UK Home students who do not hold a previous doctoral level qualification.

The work on this project could involve:

  • Investigating how the design of social media platforms can inadvertently push people toward violent or harmful behaviour. 
  • Using digital methods to capture and analyse public content from major apps to understand how online trends escalate. 
  • Working with practitioners to help develop better ways to spot early warning signs of risk in digital spaces 

 

Contemporary scholarship increasingly recognises a form of online harm that cannot be fully explained by traditional models of radicalisation. This project investigates the emergence of 'nihilistic violent extremism' as a phenomenon where the pursuit of digital status drives behaviour rather than adherence to a political ideology. You will investigate how the architecture of mainstream platforms like TikTok interacts with online subcultures to shape these actions. 
 
The project explores how the mechanics of immediate feedback influence user decision-making or encourage escalation. It traces how the pressure to maintain visibility can lead young people into dangerous behaviour without a clear political motive; because this activity sits within everyday use of social media rather than fringe environments, it represents a unique challenge for safeguarding. You will examine the complex interplay between online subcultures and sociotechnical environments to understand how online architecture influences user actions. 

Using netnographic methods, you will trace how the desire for recognition transforms casual online performance into significant harm. You will employ a reflexive thematic approach to observe how meaning builds gradually through posting or response. This enables the analysis to capture the specific shift from experimental content to posts that take on unintended significance. This work offers a critical opportunity to advance criminological theory by analysing how digital spaces produce risk through their structural mechanics rather than just serving as a stage for existing beliefs.

 

Entry requirements

You'll need a good first degree from an internationally recognised university (minimum upper second class or equivalent, depending on your chosen course) or a Master’s degree in an appropriate subject. In exceptional cases, we may consider equivalent professional experience and/or
qualifications. English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

We are looking for a candidate with a background in Criminology, Sociology or Social Media Studies who has a genuine interest in digital culture. Experience with qualitative analysis is essential, and quantitative desirable. Familiarity with digital research tools or a willingness to learn netnographic methods would be a distinct advantage. 

As this is a dual award with Edith Cowan University, you must be committed to spending 12 months of the programme based in Perth, Australia. This time abroad is a core part of the project that allows you to work with a specialised team in a different regulatory environment. You should be open to working across disciplines and engaging with external partners within social media and safeguarding settings.  

 

 

How to apply

We’d encourage you to contact Dr Aram Ghaemmaghami (aram.ghaemmaghami@port.ac.uk) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code.

When you are ready to apply, you can use our online application form. Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV. Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process.

If you want to be considered for this funded PhD opportunity you must quote project code CCJ50810226 when applying. Please note that email applications are not accepted.