Birkbeck launches pioneering AI and child development PhD programme thanks to major investment

The funding will establish four fully-supported PhD studentships as part of The CareTech Foundation and Blakebank Trust PhD Programme in AI and the Developing Child - a pioneering training programme led by Professor Denis Mareschal, Director of Birkbeck’s Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development (CBCD).

Two of the PhDs are funded by the CareTech Foundation, co-funded with the ESRC-funded UBEL DTP, while a further two PhDs are funded by the Blakebank Trust. Together, this support will cover tuition fees, stipends, research expenses and a comprehensive package of training and skills development.

This first-of-its-kind PhD programme will bring together interdisciplinary expertise in cognitive neuroscience and AI to address urgent questions about how AI-enabled technologies are reshaping childhood, from learning and curiosity to social development and family life. Advances in AI are creating new opportunities for more personalised learning and support, including for children from under-resourced backgrounds and those across the spectrum of neurodiversity. At the same time, as AI becomes embedded in everyday life, there is growing concern around how these technologies influence brain, cognitive and social development from early childhood through to adolescence.

By generating robust evidence in this emerging field, the programme will help provide guidance for parents, educators and policymakers on the responsible use of AI to improve children’s developmental outcomes, while helping to ensure children and young people are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world.

This initiative comes at a critical moment, as national policy and public debate increasingly turn to the impact of screen time and digital technologies on young children. Recent UK Government guidance for parents of under-fives has underscored the need for evidence-based insights into how emerging technologies shape early development, precisely what these PhD studentships are designed to address.

Professor Lucy Mazdon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Knowledge Exchange and Innovation), said: “We are incredibly grateful to the CareTech Foundation and the Blakebank Trust, with match funding from the ESRC, for making this programme possible. Their collective investment is not only enabling us to support a new cohort of outstanding PhD researchers but also strengthening Birkbeck’s position at the forefront of interdisciplinary research into AI and child development. This programme will have a lasting impact by advancing knowledge, informing policy and ensuring that emerging technologies are shaped in ways that truly benefit children, families and society.”

The programme’s investment builds on longstanding partnerships between Birkbeck and its supporters. One of the Blakebank Trust’s Trustees is a Birkbeck alumna and the Trust has previously supported doctoral research. At the same time, the CareTech Foundation - the charitable arm of CareTech, a leading UK provider of specialist social care and education services - builds on its earlier investment in the Home Lab in Birkbeck’s ToddlerLab, strengthening a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

Tariq Raja, Executive Director, CareTech Foundation, said: “The CareTech Foundation exists to improve the lives of children, young people and adults, including those living in care and individuals with disabilities, by supporting initiatives that deliver lasting social impact. This new PhD programme builds on our long‑standing partnership with Birkbeck and our shared commitment to research and innovation that can improve early understanding and identification of developmental needs. By investing in research into how AI is shaping child development, we are helping ensure emerging technologies are used responsibly and in ways that strengthen care, education and outcomes for children and families in the local communities we serve.”

Hilary Crowe, Trustee of the Blakebank Trust and Birkbeck alumna, said: “As a Birkbeck alumna, I have seen first‑hand the university’s commitment to research with real social impact. The Blakebank Trust is proud to continue its support for doctoral research that addresses pressing societal questions, particularly at the intersection of technology, development and wellbeing. This programme exemplifies Birkbeck’s ability to combine academic excellence with public relevance, and we are delighted to help sustain and grow that impact through this new generation of PhD researchers.”

The PhD researchers will work across priority research areas, including how AI shapes children’s learning and problem solving, its influence on trust and authority of parents in the household, and how children’s brains respond when interacting with AI compared to humans.

By embedding doctoral training within Birkbeck’s world-leading CBCD, which has over 25 years of expertise in studying brain and cognitive development, the programme aims to create a pipeline of highly-skilled researchers equipped to guide policy and practice in an AI-driven world.