PhD scholarship empowering women in tech offered in tribute to respected Computer Science lecturer  

The University of Wolverhampton, in partnership with the OpenBright Foundation, has launched a one-time, fully funded scholarship opportunity designed to support women pursuing doctoral research in computing and technology-related fields. 

 This unique scholarship honours the legacy of Dr Vinita Nahar (pictured right), a respected Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at the University, who sadly passed away in July 2023. Vinita was known for her commitment to supporting students, especially women in computing, and this scholarship honours her impact and legacy. 

This initiative continues her mission to create inclusive pathways into tech leadership and academia. 

The scholarship is open to home and international applicants who identify as women and wish to undertake a PhD in a computing or technology-related discipline. It includes full tuition fees, a living stipend, and support for research-related expenses. 

Emily Rodden, Lecturer AI & Data Science at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We are incredibly proud to launch this scholarship in memory of Dr Vinita Nahar, whose dedication to student success and gender equity in tech left a lasting impact.  

“This initiative not only honours her legacy but also opens doors for the next generation of women researchers to lead innovation in computing and technology.” 

 Previous OpenBright grant winners 

OpenBright provides grants to support women pursuing university-level and innovative research in computing and technology fields, including software engineering, data science, digital media, AI, and robotics. Through OpenBright, The University of Wolverhampton supports students with their MSc projects twice a year.   

Artificial Intelligence (AI) students, Wendy Lomas and Temitope Adeyelu, were among the recipients of OpenBright scholarship grants in 2024. 

Wendy, a PhD student in Computational Bioacoustics and AI, received nearly £5,000 to support her research on environmentally sustainable AI models for wildlife conservation and carbon cycle monitoring. 

Wendy said: “To have this endorsement has given me confidence in my project…  It’s enabled me to take up opportunities, such as networking at conferences and forming new collaborations, and fund some of the hardware needed to enhance the project.   

“I’m very lucky to be able to work on something I love that could have a broad impact.” 

Temitope, pursuing a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence, used her grant to enhance her research on using generative AI to improve legal literacy. 

Temitope said: “The grant has been a game changer… It gave me the tools and confidence to code more efficiently and explore new opportunities,” she said. 

Read more about how Wendy and Temitope were supported by the Dr Vinita Nahar OpenBright Scholarship here.  

 Apply now for the Dr Vinita Nahar OpenBright Scholarship 

The application window is open now until 30 June 2025.  

Applicants must submit a clear research proposal aligned with the University’s areas of expertise and meet standard PhD entry requirements. 

For full eligibility details and to apply, visit: wlv.ac.uk/apply/openbright