Technology, disability and human rights

Emerging technologies, disability and human rights

Degree type

PhD

Closing date

27 March 2023

Campus

Hobart

Citizenship requirement

Domestic/International

About the research project

The increasing sophistication and utilisation of automated and AI-informed technologies holds promise for improving the lives of people with disability in areas such as independent living, education and employment. The development and use of such technologies by individuals, corporations and governments also raises concerns about potential negative impacts on the rights of people with disability in terms of discrimination, bias, violation of privacy and other issues.

While there is a growing body of legal analysis of these developments, there has been limited engagement with them from a human rights law perspective. This project would address that gap, investigating the human rights dimensions of the development and use of emerging technologies in relation to people with disability and proposing legal responses to them.

The project will be conducted in close collaboration with people with disability and their representative organisations, in keeping with article 4 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the global disability rights movement’s credo, ‘nothing about us without us’.

Primary Supervisor

Meet Prof Margaret Otlowski

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

  • a living allowance stipend of $31,500 per annum (2023 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
  • a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
  • a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

  • Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus

Selection Criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded.  Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Application process

There is a three-step application process:

  1. Select your project, and check you meet the eligibility and selection criteria;
  2. Contact the Primary Supervisor, Prof Margaret Otlowski, to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
  3. Submit an application by the closing date listed above.
    • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
    • As part of your application, you will be required to submit a covering letter, a CV including 2 x referees and your project research proposal.

Following the application closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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