Subject areas:
Computer science.
Funding type:
Tuition fee.
Stipend.
Research Training & Support Grant.
3.5 year fully-funded studentship in informatics to start in October 2025.
Award details
Start Up Studentship – In storytelling, characters are the heartbeat of the narrative. Every action, choice, and conflict stems from who the characters are, what they want, and what they fear. A character-centric story places the individual at the centre, focusing not just on the plot, but on the emotional arcs, personal growth, and relationships that drive the narrative forward. However, in current research on large language models, the generated content is typically written in the third person and lacks interactivity.
This project aims to develop a new multimodal model that generates character-centric stories based on provided input. By focusing on individual character development, this model has the potential to revolutionize fields such as education, mental health care, and entertainment.
Award value
The studentships are funded for 3.5 years and include Tuition Fees, a Stipend at the UK Research Council rate (plus London weighting) and an allowance for research consumables and travel.
Eligibility criteria
Award open to UK and overseas students.
Applicants should have a First-class undergraduate degree or a Distinction at MSc level in Computer Science or another discipline relevant for their PhD project proposal (for example, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics or Physics). In exceptional cases other qualifications and experience may be considered and all applications will be assessed on their merit as appropriate.
Application process
Applications should be submitted by the end of May for a start in October 2025. Applications will be assessed as they arrive so submit as early as possible.
To be considered for the position candidates must apply via King’s Apply online application system. Details are available here.
To apply for this studentship funding please cite the code ‘StartUpGui’ in the Funding section of the application form. Please select option 5 ‘I am applying for a funding award or scholarship administered by King’s College London’ and type the code into the ‘Award Scheme Code or Name’ box. Please copy and paste the code exactly.
Applicants should email Dr Lin Gui before submitting the application, and include a summary of their academic background, research interests and any relevant previous experience.
Selection process
Applicants will be shortlisted based on the documents submitted and, if selected, will be interviewed by a panel of 2-3 academics from the Department.
Contact Details
Dr Lin Gui, Lin.1.gui@kcl.ac.uk