Learning from error: building the foundations for autonomous AI Scientists Ref: 5815

Supervisors

Dr Stephan Guttinger, Department of Philosophy, University of Exeter

Professor James Wakefield, Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter

This fully funded PhD project aims to develop a novel account of how science learns from error, with a focus on the use of AI in science. The position is part of the ERAs project, which aims to build the foundations for autonomous AI Scientists.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have fuelled the idea of building “AI scientists”, i.e., systems that can autonomously perform part or all of the research process. However, to realise this vision AI systems need specific abilities. One of these abilities is troubleshooting: experiments often go wrong and researchers constantly need to deal with and learn from experimental error. Thus, if AI systems are supposed to perform research autonomously, they need to have error-reasoning ability. This fully funded PhD Studentship forms part of the Error-Reasoning Agents (ERAs) project, which aims to develop the tools required for assessing the error-reasoning ability of AI systems and to thereby foster the careful and effective introduction of AI agents into the research process.

The goal of this PhD project is to develop a novel account of what it means to learn from error in science. In what sense is science “self-correcting”, and what does this process entail? How are mistakes or errors used to advance the research process? Answering these fundamental questions will not only represent a key contribution to debates in philosophy of science but also provide a foundation for thinking about how novel AI tools might help or hinder the research process. In the long term, the research will also help inform the design of novel ERAs.

The PhD candidate will be based at the Egenis Centre for the Study of the Life Sciences, a leading centre for interdisciplinary research on the biosciences and related disciplines. Egenis has a long tradition of pursuing a practice-focused approach to philosophy and offers a lively and diverse academic community that brings together philosophers, scientists, and social scientists.

Specific research tasks the candidate will pursue include the analysis of historical case studies from the biological sciences; engagement with current literature in philosophy of science; as well as field work in bioscience laboratories at the University of Exeter. The student will also have funding available to travel to conferences to present and discuss their findings.

Suitable candidates will preferably have a background in both philosophy and the natural sciences, but the latter is not required. An interest in interdisciplinary communication and engagement as well as an understanding of how AI is currently deployed in science are desirable but not essential.

Duration and value of award

The studentship will be for a period of up to 3.5 years (42 months), dependent on satisfactory progress, and will cover full UK tuition fees and an annual maintenance grant of £20,780 (2025/26 rate).

Entry requirements

Applicants should have at a minimum a good first degree (at least 2.1, or international equivalent) in either Philosophy or the natural sciences, and have obtained, or are currently working towards a Master's degree at Merit level, or international equivalent, in Philosophy or History and Philosophy of Science (HPS).

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information.

·       Applicants would be expected to start their studies in September 2026.

·       Recipients are expected to commit to engagement beyond their doctoral studies through contributing to the research environment of their discipline and the Faculty by participating in research activities, accessing skills development training and opportunities and career development etc. Continued funding would be dependent on satisfactory evidence of this engagement having taken place.

Please note that these studentships are only open to applicants who will start their study in September 2026, not those who have already started.

Applications will only be supported for campus-based programmes as this studentship is not open to Distance-Learning programmes.

How to apply

Apply now

To apply, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button above. You will be asked to submit the following by 12:00 (Noon) GMT Monday 2 March 2026:  

·       A covering letter outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project

·       We encourage you to include in your covering letter a 250-word (max) statement outlining how your background will enrich our diverse and inclusive research community. You are encouraged to reflect on your own experience, interests and/or proposed research for the statement. Please note this is optional

·       A 200-500 word statement on your fit with the department/Faculty research culture and your prospective supervision team.

·       A CV

·       Proof of academic track record (transcripts/certificates)

·       Two references, at least one to be an academic reference

·       Proof of your English language proficiency, if relevant

Please submit all documents, apart from your references and degree transcripts, as one combined file and submit this against the research proposal section of the application form.

All application documents must be submitted in English. Certified translated copies of academic qualifications must also be provided.

Please quote reference 5815 on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship.

Reference information
It is your responsibility to ensure that your referees email their references to PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk, as we will not make requests for references directly; you must arrange for them to be submitted by 2 March 2026. Please note that applications with missing documentation will not progress to shortlisting.

References should be in the form of a letter. Referees must email their references to us from their institutional email accounts. We cannot accept references from personal/private email accounts, unless it is a scanned document on institutional headed paper and signed by the referee.

Summary