Build a Trustworthy Information Recommendation System

Online media platforms have become the primary channels for news dissemination. Yet, these platforms are grappling with a pressing challenge of public distrust arising from pervasive issues such as misinformation, compromised user privacy, echo chambers, and community biases. This challenge is particularly acute in the context of Australia's multicultural society. This project aims to tackle this challenge by spearheading the design and development of trustworthy information recommendation technologies, including automated misinformation filtering techniques, user-controlled privacy protection mechanisms, diversity-aware information recall algorithms, and community fairness-enhanced information ranking algorithms. These technical advancements will tackle existing issues of distrust in Aussie online media platforms and lay the groundwork for a more reliable and secure cyberspace.

The University of Queensland, Australia is a world's top 50 university (QS World University Rankings 2025). Embedded in the Data Science discipline at The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, you will be part of a world-leading research group in Data Science and AI with research funding coming both from the industry sector (e.g., Amazon, Meta, Google) and the public sector (e.g., Australian Research Council).

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of large language models and recommendation systems would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of computer science or data science and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of data science is highly desirable.

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Professor Hongzhi Yin (h.yin1@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 30 June, 2025 30 June, 2025.

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter TRUSTWORTHY-YIN.

Apply now