Artificial Intelligence in the PhD Journey: Transforming Research, Mentorship, and Learning

This study investigates the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on doctoral programs across three European countries—Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands—through a multiple-case study approach. By conducting 15 semi-structured interviews with PhD students, the paper explores how AI is transforming research practices, mentor-mentee dynamics, and emotional well-being in PhD education. Key findings highlight AI’s role in automating micro-tasks such as data cleaning, literature reviews, and basic analyses, allowing students to focus more on advanced research. AI also reduces the need for regular feedback from supervisors, fostering greater independence but raising concerns about the depth of mentorship. Additionally, AI helps alleviate the emotional isolation often experienced by PhD students by providing real-time support. This paper contributes theoretically by addressing the unexplored impact of AI specifically on PhD programs, a topic not previously studied in depth. Most prior research has focused on AI within higher education institutions (HEIs) at large, making this a novel investigation. This paper also contributes to understanding how AI reshapes academic processes, offering practical implications for students, supervisors, and HEIs in adapting to a technology- driven research environment.