Learning with Generative Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models

About the project 

Harness advanced technologies in the education field  

If you are ready to kickstart your career in education and excited about understanding and developing new technologies in this field, the University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering a hands-on project-based PhD within UniSA Education Futures.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has become prolific in our daily lives. This includes the education sector, with students turning to it more frequently to support their learning. However, how students use it and the factors that influence their effective, appropriate, equitable and ethical use is largely under-explored.

Using GenAI and large language models (LLMs) in authentic education settings and drawing on contemporary mixed method approaches, including quantitative and qualitative analysis, our transformative project will investigate how students engage with such tools and the theoretical underpinnings that inform the decisions they make.

Our project will be conducted in a university setting to explore how students use GenAI and LLMs to support their learning and how it can best be integrated into the university curriculum.

You will be situated within the Higher Education Research Network, which is a leading research concentration with demonstrated expertise in a range of contemporary methodological approaches, innovative higher education research projects, and extensive research connections and collaboration opportunities.

You will be provided with ample support by a team of internationally renowned researchers, studying alongside other PhD candidates and a range of early, mid, and senior career academics. This provides you with a collegial and supportive research environment to nourish your academic growth and well-being. It will also provide you with plentiful mentorship opportunities. 

You will have access to state-of-the-art AI tools for data collection and analysis where appropriate and will have numerous opportunities to develop collaborations with other national and international scholars. This will help you build your academic track record and personal research directions.

What you’ll do 

In this project-based research degree, you will help develop frameworks and models for higher education institutes that are appropriate for supporting university students in learning with GenAI.

We will support you to attend and present at local and international conferences, which will help strengthen your presentation skills and expand your research networks.

We will also encourage and guide you to publish your findings in leading academic journals and share your findings broadly to key stakeholders through workshops, best practice guidelines and recommendations for advancing policy.

Where you’ll be based

You will be based at UniSA Education Futures, which connects all fields of education and teaching, arts, and languages. We make sure our graduates don’t just teach the how, but the why.

Our people are ethical, logical, and influential, exploring opportunities across disciplines and making evidence-led decisions.

UniSA Education Futures conducts powerful research in partnership with academia and industry. We contribute to a global knowledge base and find solutions to common challenges faced by rapidly evolving societies worldwide. 

We embed digital opportunities into the everyday. The Samsung SMARTSchool combines teaching and learning with the latest IT technology, facilitating innovation, problem-solving and team-based learning.

UniSA is a catalyst for those ready to use their knowledge and potential to tackle unpredictable challenges. We produce curious, collaborative, and empowered professionals who are ready to transform the future. Financial Support 

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 per annum is available to Australian and New Zealand citizens, and permanent residents of Australia, including permanent humanitarian visa holders. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $52,352 per annum (2025 rate). A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.

Eligibility and Selection

This project is open to applications from Australian or New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents or permanent humanitarian visa holders. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a PhD. 

Additionally, applicants must meet the project selection criteria: 

• Prior experience and/or knowledge of quantitative/statistical analysis and/or qualitative/thematic analysis.

All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. A merit selection process will be used to determine the successful candidate.

The successful applicant is expected to study full-time and to be based at our Mawson Lakes campus in the heart of Adelaide. 

Essential Dates 

Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer. Extended deferral periods are not available. Applications close on Thursday, 3 July, 2025.