Responsible digital innovation for social value creation

We are offering a self-funded PhD position with the Brunel Business School, focusing on exploring AI's role in responsible digital innovation.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

If you have any questions about the project or would like to arrange an informal discussion, please reach out to Dr Asieh Hosseini Tabaghdehi at asieh.hosseinitabaghdehi@brunel.ac.uk.

This research investigates the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving responsible digital innovation to generate social value. The project focuses on developing innovative AI solutions that address societal challenges, promote ethical practices, and foster positive social change. By exploring how AI can be leveraged to create impactful, sustainable outcomes, the project aims to guide organizations in using AI for innovation that directly benefits communities, particularly those that are underserved or marginalized.

Key focus areas

AI for Social Innovation: Explore how AI can be used to create innovative solutions that improve access to services, reduce inequality, and empower communities.
Responsible AI Innovation: Develop frameworks for fostering responsible AI innovation that ensures fairness, transparency, and accountability in the design and deployment of AI technologies.
AI-Driven Social Impact: Investigate how AI can influence positive social behaviours and create measurable social value through innovative approaches.
Ethical Impacts of AI: Examine the ethical, social, and economic impacts of AI, with a focus on mitigating bias, ensuring privacy, and enhancing data security.

Expected outcomes

Creation of innovative AI solutions that directly address societal challenges and promote social value.
Development of frameworks and guidelines for responsible and ethical AI innovation.
Recommendations for integrating social value into AI-driven innovations across industries.

Impact

This project will provide insights into how AI can be leveraged as a tool for social innovation, ensuring that digital technologies contribute to sustainable, inclusive, and ethical practices that benefit communities and society at large.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:

Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you would be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
Click on the 'Apply here' button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.

Good luck!

This is a self funded topic

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: /research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Asieh Hosseini Tabaghdehi - Dr Asieh Tabaghdehi is a Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Business Economy, and Programme Lead for the BSc International Business Programme and Trade2Grow Executive Education Programme at Brunel University of London, as well as, an economist and social impact advisor for the independent NGO, . Asieh is a well-recognised academic in digital transformation, focusing on the strategic integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to advance sustainable business practices and address critical social and economic challenges. From 2021 to 2022, Asieh co-investigated the , funded by the UK Research Institute (UKRI), that explored the ethical implications of digital footprint data on value creation for SMEs. One of the project outputs was the Digital Business Auditing Framework, which has been adopted internationally for smart city initiatives. Asieh has attained an international reputation in the field of ethical integration and deployment of AI, particularly in the contexts of smart data governance. Her research integrates industry collaboration, public engagement, and policy dialogue with an emphasis on the social and economic dimensions of responsible smart city development and innovative healthcare systems. Asieh’s contributions have been widely cited in academic, practitioner, and policy outputs, and her research has informed national and international governments and businesses. Her research on connected technology has been presented as both written and oral evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee at the request of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and has been featured in national and international press. She is widely published in academic peer-reviewed journals, the press, is a frequent speaker at academic and industry conferences, and has responded to a number of policy inquiries at national and international level. She is also the author of the book , which addresses multiple facets of the AI ecosystem, including data ethics, governance, and innovation. In collaboration with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Asieh co-designed the "Digital Adoption" module for the UK Government’s Help to Grow Management program, aimed at enhancing the digital capabilities of SMEs. Asieh is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, a member of the ESRC Review College, the British Academy of Management Review College, and the Energy Institute UK. She also serves as an associate practitioner at Social Value International, an associate member of the Big Innovation Centre, and All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)- Artificial Intelligence. She is also a member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence: Social and Digital Innovation at Brunel University of London. Currently, Asieh serves as the Impact Lead at the Brunel Centre for AI, where she leads the capability area in the Future of Work. Asieh earned her PhD in Economics and Finance (2008) and MSc in International Money, Finance, and Investment (2015), both from 探花视频. She joined Brunel in 2020 after holding academic positions at Regent’s University London, where she also served as Director for the BSc Global Management (Finance Pathway). Prior to her academic career, she gained industry experience as a business analyst, further enriching her interdisciplinary approach to research and teaching.