Northeastern University London Fully Funded PhD Scholarship in Network Science Higher-Order Representational Geometry in Biological and Artificial Neural Systems

About the Opportunity

Northeastern University London Fully Funded PhD Scholarship in Network Science

Higher-Order Representational Geometry in Biological and Artificial Neural Systems

Northeastern University London > Network Science Institute

Deadline: 30 April 2026

Funded PhD Project (UK or International Students)

Funding provider: Northeastern University London (NU London)

Subject areas: Mechanistic Interpretability Computational Neuroscience Network Science

Project start date: September 2025

Supervisors (*lead):

Giovanni Petri* (Network Science Institute Northeastern University London)

Zhongtian Sun (School of Computing University of Kent)

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Network Science

Mode of study: Full-time

Northeastern University London

As part of a major investment Northeastern University London (NU London) has multiple fully-funded PhD studentships available to accelerate its interdisciplinary research in the humanities social sciences and digital sciences. Each scholarship is fully-funded for three and a half years (UKRI rates) and includes full course fees an annual stipend (including an additional London allowance) and associated costs such as training.

NU London is both a UK university governed by UK higher education regulations and the European campus of Northeastern University a large top-tier research intensive Boston-based institution. Founded in 1898 Northeastern University is known for its high-impact research aimed at solving problems across the globe. Interdisciplinarity experiential learning and connection to partners beyond academia are at the heart of the Northeastern University ethos. Northeastern received $230.7m of external research funding in 2022 and is the recognized leader in experience-driven lifelong learning. It has campuses across the United States and Canada (in Boston; Charlotte North Carolina; Portland Maine; Oakland California; San Francisco; Seattle; Silicon Valley; Arlington Virginia; the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Toronto and Vancouver). Whilst the PhD will be a UK qualification students will have the opportunity to engage with and visit the Northeastern University network overseas as part of their London-based doctoral studies providing a truly unique and highly sought-after dimension to their research training.

The Project

What are the geometric and topological structures in neural representations that enable or constrain compositional cognition and do the same signatures appear across biological brains and artificial neural networks

This is the central question driving this PhD project part of the ERC Consolidator Grant RUNES (Reconstruction and Unification of Neural and Ecological Systems). The successful candidate will work at the intersection of mechanistic interpretability computational neuroscience and cognitive AI investigating how the internal geometry of neural representations shapes what both brains and deep networks can and cannot do.

Recent work has shown that Vision-Language Models (VLMs) exhibit compositional failures that strikingly parallel known human cognitive constraints such as the binding problem. The geometric overlap of concept vectors in latent representation space correlates with specific error patterns suggesting that the geometry of representations constrains compositional cognition across both biological and artificial systems. This project will use tools from mechanistic interpretability concept extraction causal tracing activation patching together with geometric and information-theoretic methods to understand the representational basis of compositional cognition bridging AI interpretability with neuroscience.

The research programme spans four interconnected directions: (i) using mechanistic interpretability methods (concept vectors steering interventions causal tracing) to characterise how the geometry of representations in open-weight VLMs and LLMs shapes compositional success and failure; (ii) contributing to the RUNES neuroimaging programme by applying computational neuroscience tools to fMRI data from multitasking and binding experiments; (iii) building a cross-system bridge testing whether the representational signatures that distinguish compositional success from failure in AI systems also appear in neural population codes during analogous cognitive tasks; and (iv) developing new interpretability methods that capture group-level structure in neural network circuits beyond current pairwise approaches.

The successful candidate will join the NP Lab within the Network Science Institute (led by Prof. G. Petri) and is expected to interact with members of the group as well as with postdocs graduate and PhD students and to work across a range of applications of network and topological data analysis both within and outside of the lab.

The successful candidate will:

Hold an MSc (or equivalent) in Physics Mathematics Computer Science or related fields

Have strong computational and modelling skills including proficiency in Python and experience with deep learning frameworks

Have experience or strong interest in mechanistic interpretability representational geometry or computational neuroscience

Be comfortable working across disciplinary boundaries (AI neuroscience mathematics)

Have excellent communication and collaboration skills

The successful candidate will benefit from a brand new campus on the banks of the River Thames next to Tower Bridge. This is an interdisciplinary vibrant research environment with international collaboration and networking opportunities and dedicated research space. It will form the hub of a highly experienced multi-institution supervisory team from NU London Northeastern University and the University of addition the successful candidate will benefit from the unique connection to the wider Northeastern University network in North America providing a range of additional research opportunities and learning resources.

The panel will be shortlisting for this position on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this post before the closing date once a suitable applicant is found.

Candidates are welcome to contact the NU London supervisor with informal enquiries before the application deadline: Giovanni Petri ()

Eligibility

Bachelors degree in a relevant subject 2:1 or 1st (essential)

Masters degree in a relevant subject (strongly recommended)

English Language requirements:

If applicable IELTS 6.5 overall (with a score of at least 6.5 in each individual component) or equivalent.

Nationality

Applications are open to UK and international students. Please indicate if you are likely to require a visa on your application. We are unable to support visa costs.

Funding

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees an annual stipend and an additional London allowance (set at UKRI rates) for 3.5 years.

How to Apply

Please send a CV a 2-page Research Proposal related to the topics of the research project and a Covering Letter stating how you meet the requirements and why you are interested in the proposed research project.

Position Type

Additional Information

About the University

Northeastern University London (NU London) is a prestigious higher education institution based in the heart of London and is part of Northeastern Universitys global campus network.

Overlooking the River Thames near Tower Bridge NU London offers academically challenging educational programmes designed to inspire innovative thinking encourage interdisciplinary study and provide global experiences. The bright and modern campus offers award winning contemporary facilities for students and staff including state of the art audio visual technology in its teaching and meeting spaces.

Inspired by excellence infused with an energy of ideas and ability in motion at NU London being a part of our staff is to be a part of a collective of entrepreneurs and educators builders and London is growing quickly offering opportunity and growth for our staff. Currently hosting 1500 students our aim is to have 4000 students by 2028/29.

Choose NU London

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents the University supports staff maintaining a good work/life balance your health and wellness are of utmost importance to us and our offerings encompass:

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays and winter break holidays (normally 2 days between Christmas and New Year).

• Access to personalised Continuous Professional Development (CPD) plans and opportunities.

• Support with private medical insurance.

• Eye test reimbursement.

• Cycle Scheme vouchers.

• 24/7 employee assistance/ support via our Employee Assistance Programme.

• Access to deals and discounts for food & shopping in the local area.

Enquiries

Informal enquiries may be made to However all applications must be made in accordance with the application process specified.

Application process

Applications should be made viaby 00:00 on

Participation in the equal opportunities section is encouraged but voluntary.

Applications must include a covering letter of no more than one page that addresses the criteria for the role and a full curriculum vitae.

The panel will be shortlisting for this position on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this post before the closing date if we receive a large number of applications.

Please note all employees of Northeastern University London are required to undergo at least a basic DBS check. Our organisation acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard protect and promote the welfare of our students and staff and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities government guidance and complies with best practice and Ofsted requirements. You must adhere to the above if you are offered a role with NU London.

For staffs own wellbeing for part time roles the expectation is if you have multiple roles they should not exceed full time (37.5 hours per week) and for full time roles the expectation is that this will be your only role (apart from intermittent roles).

Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and will be judged on merit alone. We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups including the Global Majority. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.