Funding Opportunities in the Faculty of Science
Funding Opportunities across the Faculty of ScienceChemistry (Department of)Complexity Science Doctoral Training CentreComputer Science (Department of)Engineering (School of)
Life Sciences (School of)
Mathematics (Institute of)Mathematics and Statistics Centre for Doctoral Training Centre (MASDOC)Molecular Organisation and Assembly in Cells (MOAC)Physics (Department of)Psychology (Department of)Scientific Computing (Centre for)
Statistics (Department of)
Systems Biology Doctoral Training Centre
Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG)
Funding Opportunities across the Faculty of ScienceSKTP Internships ProgrammeShorter KTPs, (sKTPs), formerly known as Internships, are funded by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Technology Strategy Board.
sKTPs are postgraduate internships that offer a new way of putting mathematics to work at the heart of business. The programme places a current UK-based PhD student into a company for a period of between 3 and 6 months, to carry out a stand-alone project that develops or exploits some capability in industrial mathematics.
The areas of projects vary greatly and include but not limited to modelling and simulation, algorithm development, technology testing and data analysis.
These are normally available to both Home/EU and Overseas students, normally in their second or third years of study.
For all further information, please visit the SKTPs website.
Department of Chemistry3 and 4-year PhD ProgrammesThe Life Sciences Doctoral Training Centre, funded by the BBSRC, offers a PhD with excellent opportunities for training and research. Two types of entry are available: 4-year PhDs incorporating a 9-month training course and a number of 3-year PhDs for those already holding an MSc or other professional qualifications or experience. Chemistry has research groups in chemical biology (bioorganic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, biophysical chemistry, structural biology, enzymology, natural products chemistry and biology) and molecular microbiology. For further information: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesciencephd/phd_projects/#Chemistry Complexity Science Doctoral Training Centre4-year PhD ProgrammesWarwick's Complexity Science Doctoral Training Centre is a ground-breaking, inter-disciplinary initiative aimed at training a new generation of scientists at PhD level to understand, control and design complex systems, and to do innovative research in complexity science via critical thinking, interdisciplinary teamwork and end-user interaction. Department of Computer Science3-year PhD Programmes The Department has a small number of Computer Science Research Studentships which are awarded on a research group basis and therefore are dependent on availability and merit. They are very competitive and usually the decision to award them is made at the end of the summer term. Applicants are eligible to apply for a Studentship when they have received an offer for an MSc or PhD place in Computer Science. Visit the departmental and group websites for new funding opportunities. Victoria Fernandes PhD ScholarshipThe Victoria Fernandes Scholarship has been established by The School of Engineering in memory of one of our former PhD students, Victoria Fernandes. Victoria sadly died shortly before submitting her PhD thesis in 2006. Vicky (as she was widely referred to) had obtained a first class Warwick MEng in 2003 and continued onto our research degree programme, examining aspects of cementitious materials and their application to low-cost housing in the tropics. Throughout her studies she was ill with an infection that often incapacitated her, yet after every medical setback she returned to her studies with renewed determination. Her commitment to completing those studies was exceptional and extraordinary and she consciously risked her life for them. This Scholarship has been established in recognition and memory of her commitment, dedication and courage. She set an example for us all. Eligibility: Funding Details: Awards available: 1 award available Length of Award: 3 years (PhD) Application Process: Deadline: Thursday 31st May 2012 Please quote scholarship reference: VFS-1213
Life Sciences
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Systems Modeling of Plant Stress to Improve Crop Yield and Quality (Professor Jim Beynon, Dr Vicky Buchanan-Wollaston, Dr Katherine Denby) |
| Warwick Systems Biology Human population growth is outpacing our ability to produce sufficient food. This problem is compounded by climate changes altering seasonal growing conditions for the crop plants that underpin all of our food supply. Warwick is a leading research centre applying cutting edge techniques to meet these challenges. To develop new crops with enhanced yields in changing environments we have to improve our understanding of how plants respond to the environmental stresses caused by climate change. In one approach we are using systems biology, the application of mathematical modeling to biological challenges, to generate transcriptional models of the stress networks that control plant growth and development. Identification of the key controlling points within the network will allow us to target specific alleles in crop plants that confer yield advantage under stress. In this large interdisciplinary programme we are creating and applying state of the art mathematical and experimental tools to identify the key genes and regulatory pathways that control the response of the plant to a variety of stresses such as pathogen attack and water limitation. The PhD projects available in this area will apply a multidisciplinary approach to elucidate key aspects of the stress responsive plant signaling network. We are seeking motivated students from biological or theoretical backgrounds to join a cohort of fellow students in the Doctoral Training Centre and undertake one year MSc training in Systems Biology to acquire the skills essential for collaborative Systems Biology research. This will be followed by a 3 year PhD project on a topic selected by the student. For information on the MSc training and the Doctoral Training Centre see http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/sbdtc/. For application, please follow instructions for prospective students on this site and state your research interests on the application form. For further information on the research project see the PRESTA webpage http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/whri/research/presta/ and contact the staff members shown on this site. |
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Dynamics of the Cytoskeleton |
| Warwick Systems Biology in collaboration with the new Warwick Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology Food uptake, cell motion and cell division require animal cells to be highly flexible and responsive to their environment. Intracellular forces that govern cellular mechanics and shape changes are mediated by the cytoskeleton which consists of inter-connected structural elements that exert force by dynamically growing and shrinking and are able to act in concert with molecular motors. Following a systems biology approach we combine experiments, quantitative image analysis and computational modeling. Main focus of our research is on the mechanisms of cytoskeletal self-organisation that underpin the biological processes mentioned at the outset. You will be part of a multidisciplinary team of researchers and have a strong interest in theoretical approaches, although your current background might be experimental. Possible projects are for example: i) development of advanced quantitative image analysis methods to study how spatio-temporal dynamics of actin and microtubules is regulated, ii) computational modeling of actin responses to extracellular signals. We are seeking motivated students from biological or theoretical backgrounds to join a cohort of fellow students in the Doctoral Training Centre and undertake one year MSc training in Systems Biology to acquire the skills essential for collaborative Systems Biology research. This will be followed by a 3 year PhD project on a topic selected by the student. For information on the MSc training and the Doctoral Training Centre see http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/sbdtc/. For application, please follow instructions for prospective students on this site and state your research interests on the application form. For further information on the involved research groups visit http://go.warwick.ac.uk/bretschneider and http://www.mechanochemistry.org/ |
| Systems Biology: Coordinating and controlling rhythms throughout the cell |
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PhD Studentship: Analysing Protein Energetics with Stochastic Computation3 years, paying full academic fees at the Home/EU rate plus a maintenance stipend. The studentship is open to applications from both Home/EU and overseas applicants, but those classified as'overseas' for fees purpose will be required to pay the difference between the Home/EU and the Overseas fees rates.This Leverhulme Trust funded project will address outstanding questions surrounding one of the most intriguing problems of molecular biology: how proteins adopt a unique functional native structure.50 years ago, the Nobel laureate Christian Anfinsen and colleagues demonstrated that protein molecules can fold into their three-dimensional ‘native state’ reversibly, leading to the view that these structures represented the global minimum of a rugged funnel-like ‘energy landscape’. Since this seminal work, computer simulations have continued to shed light on the phenomena of protein folding and function. However, protein modelling and structure prediction faces two major challenges if progress is to be made in the development of more precise models, which quantitatively describe experimental observations. The first is the difficulty of efficient sampling in the enormous conformational space accessible to protein molecules, whilst the second is the development of the energy function describing molecular interactions for the problem at hand. The microscopic size of protein molecules makes it impossible to measure these interactions directly, and so known protein structures themselves have become the best available experimental evidence. Traditionally, empirical so-called ‘knowledge-based statistical potentials’ have been used to describe such interactions from analysis of a collection of known protein structures.This project will address both of these challenges. The overall goal of this research is to advance knowledge of protein energetics and improve on established modelling techniques that utilize these empirical knowledge-based potentials. We will use an alternative approach, based on a novel statistical machine learning methodology known as ‘Contrastive Divergence’, to infer interaction potentials from a subset of known protein structures. We will also utilize a novel computational method for sampling the conformational space of molecular systems, known as ‘Nested Sampling’, which will allow us to directly investigate the macroscopic states of the protein folding pathway and evaluate the associated free energies. Warwick Systems Biology Centre is co-located with the MOAC (Molecular Organisation and Assembly in Cells) PhD Programme and offers a thriving research and postgraduate training environment at the interface of the life sciences and the mathematical and physical sciences.Candidates should have a good first degree in a relevant quantitative field such as theoretical physics, theoretical chemistry, applied mathematics, statistics etc and a strong interest in molecular biology. Good programming skills in C and previous experience of any of the following would be advantageous: stochastic computation/simulation, Bayesian methods, protein structure and folding.For informal discussions, and applications, please contact Prof. David Wild (D.L.Wild@warwick.ac.uk) in the first instance. Applicants should include a full CV and accompanying letter outlining their interests and any previous work. |
Systems Biology: Tropical Medicine/Systems Biology PhD Studentships
About interdisciplinary degrees: with co-supervisors in distinct disciplines, you become an expert in an experimental subject as well as in the mathematical modelling, statistics, and informatics required to design and analyse the experiments. Multidisciplinary graduates are highly employable, since advances in science and technology are increasingly interdisciplinary, and those individuals who are conversant with two or more disciplines are highly prized as hubs of multidisciplinary teams.
For more information, please contact Professor Richard Pleass (Richard.Pleass@liverpool.ac.uk; science) or Dr Hugo van den Berg (hugo@maths.warwick.ac.uk; mathematics).
PhD Studentship in Advanced Bayesian Computation for Cross-Disciplinary Research
A variety of projects are possible, depending on the background and interests of the student, and include:
• Applications of nonparametric Bayesian modeling to a number of contemporary problems in computational biology, including:
- static and time-varying graphs, such as molecular structures and dynamic regulatory networks
- data integration from multiple molecular phenotype platforms, such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics
• The development of new methods for Bayesian experimental design
• The construction of efficient algorithms for inference in high-dimensional, highly-dependent structured data sets, based on GPU computation
Deadline for Applications 30 September 2012
Electrospinning PhD Project in WMG
“Using electrospun core-shell nanofibres for the reinforcement of composites”
Project overview:
Electrospinning is a low-energy process where polymer solutions are used to generate fibres with diameters in the range of 100 nm – 5 µm. Electrospun fibres present an opportunity to both improve the properties of the composites involved and reduce the environmental impact of the manufacturing process. Given these fibres have a substantially smaller diameter than conventional fibres; the increased surface-to-volume ratio of the reinforcement phase should improve the structural properties of the overall composite.
Objectives:
• To investigate the potential of using electrospun nanofibres as reinforcements in composite structures
• Develop methods to increase the strength of nanofibre-reinforced composites
• Develop novel polymer systems with two or more components to enhance the physical properties of nanofibre-reinforced composites
• Optimise the production of electrospun nanofibres to make the process industrially relevant
The PhD candidate will develop expertise in a range of techniques and methodologies including core-shell electrospun nanofibre production, scanning electron microscopy and macroscopic materials characterisation.
Applicants should ideally have some experience in composite manufacturing and/or electrospinning.
Supervisors: Dr Stuart Coles, Dr Kerry Kirwan (WMG)
Funding Details:
Eligibility:
WMG: Scholarships for Taught Master's Programmes in WMG
- India
- Korea
- Latin America
- Middle East & North Africa
- Pakistan
- Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia
- South East Asia
- Sri Lanka & Bangladesh
- Sub Saharan Africa
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Turkey
WMG offer a number of Bursaries for applicants from a wide range of nationalities for their taught Master's programmes.Students applying from the following countries/ regions are eligible:
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Iran
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Latin America
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Syria
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Turkey
Find full details of the WMG Bursary's available here.
PhD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing Group
Analysis techniques for real world fuel efficiency in automotive applications
EPSRC CASE Award supported by Jaguar Land Rover
Professor Paul Jennings and Dr Simon Robinson (JLR)
This project will build on current collaborative research between JLR and WMG which is leading to a more detailed understanding of naturalistic driving behaviour for use in new product development. The specific aim is to learn how to determine the necessary fidelity and type of driver data for particular modelling applications. The motivation is to design new technology such that it is robustly optimised for fuel efficiency over a representative range of real world behaviour rather than just legislative drive cycles.
Awards available: 1 award available
Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK level.
Length of Award: 3.5 years (PhD)
Application Details:
For further details about the award please go to:
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees/
Applicants are asked to contact j.kirkwood@warwick.ac.uk before submitting an application.
Deadline: 31st May 2012
EngD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing Group
Development of TiB2 Reinforced Aluminium Alloys for Extrusion Processing
Aim
To optimise the processing of the existing A20x alloy for extrusion. To identify and evaluate an alternate commercial alloy composition which will be reinforced with TiB2 to obtain product with required target application properties through extrusion processing. In both cases comparison against an un-reinforced variant will be conducted.
Supporting Company: Aeromet
Timescales
- Start: October 2012
- End: March 2016
Awards available: 1 award available
Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK level
Length of Award: 4 years (PhD)
Application Details:
Please view the following page for full details about this award: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees/idc/
Applicants are asked to contact j.kirkwood@warwick.ac.uk before submitting an application.
Deadline: 31st May 2012
EngD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing Group
Using Magnesium Sheet in Niche Automotive Vehicles
Sponsor Company: Superform
Research Challenge
This project, in association with a consortium of manufacturing companies, a niche automotive manufacturer and Universities will focus on developing appropriate technologies to enable magnesium alloy to be used as the primary material in the construction of a body-in-white structure to produce improved structural performance at reduced weight.
Awards available: 1 award available
Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK level
Length of Award: 4 years (PhD)
Eligibility:
Essential Requirements:
- · Minimum 2:1 honours degree or equivalent, ideally within a materials or engineering-related subject.
- · Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a range of stakeholders.
- · Candidates will need to demonstrate a genuine interest in working within this area, and based on their own particular background, be able to bring innovative ideas and perspectives to this project.
Desirable Requirements:
- · Good computer programming skills.
- · Basic knowledge of and interest in new process development.
Application Details:
Please view the following page for full details about this award: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees/idc/
Applicants are asked to contact j.kirkwood@warwick.ac.uk before submitting an application.
Deadline: 31st May 2012
EngD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing Group
Sustainable Luxury
Supporting Company – JLR
Research Scope and Challenge
Legislation has driven automotive OEM's to identify innovative solutions to reduce tailpipe emissions (CO2), improve operational efficiency and resource management. Consumers are also increasingly demanding that the products they buy be made in ways that do not harm the environment or the workers who make them either directly or through the supply chain. So where does a luxury brand fit in a sustainable future? This is a challenge that both of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands face in delivering customer expectations for performance, quality and desirability. At the same time we must ensure that the products we produce meet the environmental legislation requirements, sustainable behaviours and profitable growth for our shareholders.
The values luxury brands stand for in many cases do have alignment with sustainable practices. These include timelessness, durability, innovation, craftsmanship, and a meaningful brand and retail experience; all characteristics that mirror the underlying goals of sustainability.
This project is to identify the requirements for luxury brands to achieve long term profitable growth in a sustainable world, while maintaining brand DNA, image and value. Identifying what sustainable luxury means to JLR in the future.
- - Identifying consumer trends / global trend impacts
- - Corporate values / behaviours and sustainability and the impact on brand value
- - Preserving brand DNA while taking a sustainable approach
- - Factors which drive / deliver sustainable luxury i.e. technology and manufacture
Competencies required
- · High level of innovative thought and lateral thinking to develop and promote performance improvements.
- · Good analytical and research skills
- · Highly diplomatic and professional, with ability to interact with all areas of business
- · Excellent communication and relationship building skills
- · Highly motivated and great enthusiasm for the subject
- · Self-motivated, capable of working with minimal guidance and supervision, and within a team
Awards available: 1 award available
Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK level
Length of Award: 4 years (PhD)
Application Details: Please view the following page for full details about this award: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees/idc/
Applicants are asked to contact j.kirkwood@warwick.ac.uk before submitting an application.
Deadline: 31st May 2012
EngD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing Group
Sustainable Manufacturing Business Model - Triple bottom line accounting
Supporting company: Jaguar Land Rover
Research Scope and Challenge One of the greatest challenges facing any manufacturing company in the 21st century is balancing the need to ensure long-term productivity and profitability against wider social and environmental concerns. Business models driven purely by profit, with no consideration of environmental impact and no recognition of the social value of goods and services, will not prosper in a sustainable future. The environmental Triple bottom Line (TBL) focuses manufacturing organisations not just on the economic value they add, but also on the environmental and social value they add and / or destroy.
Any specific skill sets sought in candidates
- · High level of innovative thought and lateral thinking to develop and promote performance improvements.
- · Good analytical and reporting skills
- · Highly diplomatic and professional, with ability to interact with all areas of business
- · Excellent communication and relationship building skills
- · Highly motivated and great enthusiasm for the subject
- · Self-motivated capable of working with minimal guidance and supervision, and within a team
- · Financial or economic experience is desirable
Awards available: 1 award available
Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK level
Length of Award: 4 years (PhD)
Application Details:
Please view the following page for full details about this award: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees/idc/
Applicants are asked to contact j.kirkwood@warwick.ac.uk before submitting an application.
Deadline: 31st May 2012
EngD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing Group
Benchmarking Towards High Value, Low Impact Manufacturing and the Path to Excellence
Sponsor Company: Institution of Mechanical Engineers
This doctorate research will explore how we can help companies achieve High Value, Low Impact manufacturing through benchmarking and a program of improvement leading to excellence. The student will be closely involved with the annual IMechE manufacturing excellence awards (MX Awards), will assist expert assessors, review documentation and provide high quality feedback reports to entrants. The student will make international comparisons in policy, methods and tools on manufacturing excellence and devise and appraise appropriate tools for UK companies.
Qualifications & Competencies Required
- Minimum 2:1 honours degree or equivalent in an Engineering subject
- · Good understanding of Information Technology and the Internet
- · Strong investigative and analytical skills with an ability to think clearly and logically
- · Strong interpersonal skills to be able to collaborate with various stakeholders
- · Excellent oral, written and presentation skills
- · Highly motivated, versatile in work, independent team player
Awards available: 1 award available
Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK level
Length of Award: 4 years (PhD)
Application Details:
For further details about the award please go to: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees/idc/
Applicants are asked to contact j.kirkwood@warwick.ac.uk before submitting an application.
Deadline: 31st May 2012
EngD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing Group
Supporting Low Environmental Impact through use of Artificial Neural Networks in Process Simulation of Self-Piercing Rivets
Sponsor Company: Jaguar Land Rover
Research Challenge
This project, in association with Jaguar Land Rover, will adapt an innovative approach to analysethe Self-Piercing Rivets (SPR) process and will develop and implement the best model(s) to providemaximum value to the manufacturing process and support the objective of lowering environmental impact. For this you will use Artificial Neural Network (ANN), a completely different approach to the traditional FEA technique, which has the ability of learning from examples through inputs and outputs to find patterns in data and can then predict SPR process parameters.
Objectives underlining this challenge are to:
- · Establish boundary conditions for accurate prediction using a single joint configuration
- · Develop low level models for a range of joint configurations and higher models with greater functionality
- · Complete production trials and validation of models
- · Selection of best model(s) and implementation
Essential Requirements:
- · Minimum 2:1 honours degree or equivalent in an Engineering subject (Mechanical or
- · Manufacturing strongly preferred)
- · Strong computer skills with the ability to learn new software quickly
- · Strong interpersonal skills to be able to collaborate with various stakeholders
- · Excellent oral, written and presentation skills
- · Strong investigative and analytical skills
- · Candidates will need to demonstrate a genuine interest in working within this area, and based on their own particular background, be able to bring innovative ideas and perspectives to this project.
- Desirable Requirements:experience in using Artificial Neural Network (ANN)
- Awards available: 1 award available
- Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK level
- Length of Award: 4 years (PhD)
- Application Details: Please view the following page for full details about this award: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees/idc/ Applicants are asked to contact j.kirkwood@warwick.ac.uk before submitting an application.
- Deadline: 31st May 2012
EngD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing Group
Development of TiB2Reinforced Aluminium Alloys for Production Sheet & Plate
Supporting Company: Aeromet
Aim: To optimise the processing of the existing A20x alloy for sheet and plate manufacture. To identify and evaluate an alternate commercial alloy composition which will be reinforced with TiB2 to obtain product with required target application properties through hot and cold rolling. In both cases comparison against an un-reinforced variant will be conducted. Timescales Start: October 2012 End: March 2016
- Awards available: 1 award available
- Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK level
- Length of Award: 4 years (PhD)
- Application Details: Please view the following page for full details about this award: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees/idc/
- Applicants are asked to contact j.kirkwood@warwick.ac.uk before submitting an application.
- Deadline: 31st May 2012
PhD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing
Title: Learning to ignore the interferer: monitoring and improving vocoded speech intelligibility in challenging listening conditions.
Supervisors: Dr James Harte & Dr Friederike Schlaghecken
This project aims to develop a new training programme to help cochlear implant (CI) users improve their abilities to communicate in noisy conditions. Speech is a reliable means for communication, even when it is degraded or masked by competing sounds. A normal hearing person can make use of the context, rhythm, stress and intonation in the speech, to make sense of it. At present, CI users are very poor at this, as much of the information in the speech signal is lost due to the way CIs process sound.
This project will test a novel perceptual learning training programme, inspired from the visual domain, to train normal hearing participants to ignore interfering noise with vocoded speech. In addition to psychophysical measures of speech recognition, an objective measure of mutual information between the speech stimuli, interferer and surface recorded electroencephalographic (EEG) response will be calculated. It is hypothesised that this response can be used to monitor the progress of the listener to ignore the background noise. This would create a tool to track learning that does not require a verbal response from the listener.
The project will involve the acquisition of state-of-the-art multi-channel electroencephalogram recordings and nonlinear time series analysis; as well as experimental psychology/psychophysics methods. Upon completion of the project, such training would pave the way for post-doctoral positions in Hearing Research.
The project will be carried out by the Institute of Digital Healthcare (IDH), WMG in collaboration with the Department of Psychology, both within the University of Warwick. The IDH is a newly created institute, and is a five-year, £4 million collaboration between the WMG, NHS Midlands and East and Warwick Medical School. The IDH is a multidisciplinary institute, housing researchers with engineering, medicine, pharmacology and informatics backgrounds. It is thus ideally suited to support this multi-disciplinary project, providing cutting-edge facilities and academic support. The University of Warwick is consistently ranked within the top ten research-led universities in the UK.
- Awards available: 1 award available.
- Funding Details: The 3-year studentship will provide full support for tuition fees and an annual minimum tax-free stipend of £15,000.
- Length of Award: 3 years.
- Eligibility: The project is available to UK/EU nationals only due to the nature of the funding and will commence March 2012, or as soon as possible thereafter.
- Application Details: Applicants should hold a minimum upper-second honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject such as electrical engineering, psychology or neuroscience. A Master’s degree in a similar area is desirable.
Any enquiries relating to the application process should be directed to Jennifer Kirkwood at engd@warwick.ac.uk. Any enquiries relating to the project should be directed to Dr James Harte at harte_j@wmg.warwick.ac.uk.
For further information, please visit: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees - Deadline: 31st May 2012
PhD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing Group
Title: Molten Salt Batteries
Supervisor: Dr Rohit Bhagat
A PhD studentship is available to investigate the use of molten salts to create a medium to large-scale battery. During the studentship there will be significant opportunity to work with industry. This project will involve aspects of applied chemistry, materials science and engineering.
Large-scale energy storage is an attractive solution for load balancing on energy grids. However, current methods such as pumped storage hydroelectricity (PSH) are not viable in all service conditions. This studentship will focus on developing a large-scale land based molten salt battery. Realisation of this technology would provide a load balancing capability for all service conditions. In addition, energy generation from variable renewable sources (wind, solar, wave etc.) would be more fully utilised by storing energy not currently demanded.
This research is of major importance in the creation of smart grids, utilisation of renewable energy sources and load balancing on national grids. The successful applicant will gain extensive experience in the subjects of electrochemistry, electrochemical energy storage media and molten salts.
- Awards available: 1 award available.
- Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK Level
- Length of Award: 3 years (PhD)
- Eligibility: Open to UK/ EU Applicants.
- Application Details:
PhD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing Group
Title: Electrochemical Recovery of Metal from Plants.
Supervisor: Dr Rohit Bhagat
A PhD studentship is available to investigate and demonstrate an electrochemical method to recover metals from biomass. During the studentship there will be significant opportunity to work with industry to remediate sites within the UK. This work involves overcoming electrochemical, materials and chemical engineering research challenges and so potential students should have a background in these areas.
All the metals produced and consumed in the UK still exist. If not in operation or recycled then they exist as waste in our landfills or as corrosion products in our environment. These metals can be gathered using plants (phytoremediation). This project focuses on using a molten salt electrochemical process to extract metals from biomass.
This research will not only enable sustainable land remediation but also allow recycling of rare or precious metals. The successful applicant will gain extensive experience in the subjects of electrochemistry, biomass gasification and molten salts.
- Awards available: 1 award available.
- Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK Level
- Length of Award: 3 years (PhD)
- Eligibility: Open to UK/ EU applicants
- Application Details: Any enquiries relating to the application process should be directed to Jennifer Kirkwood at engd@warwick.ac.uk. For further information, please visit: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees
- Deadline: 31st May 2012
PhD Studentship, Warwick Manufacturing Group
Title: Unobtrusive Smart Environments for Independent Living (USEFIL)
The EU funded USEFIL project intends to use low cost “off-the-shelf” technology to develop immediate applicable services that will assist the elderly in maintaining their independence and their daily activities. The USEFIL system’s installation will not require retrofitting of the residence and will be almost invisible once installed thus it can be used in a wide variety of residential environments – something that will be validated within the realm of three different pilot case studies. Because the system will be “software driven,” based on open source platforms such as Android or meego and others, the provided applications can easily be added or subtracted with no real limit in the overall number of services to be offered. Furthermore the USEFIL project intends to provide guidelines for the community of developers and a platform for them to generate applications for the ageing population. Within the realm of the USEFIL project, we will deploy systems and applications that will unobtrusively record elderly behavioural indicators such as cognitive decline, emotional status and health vital signs providing in parallel information services and the means to keep their social life active irrelevant of their mobility state. The implementation will be based on the user acceptance of the technology and understanding of user interaction that truly addresses user needs.
The Institute of Digital Healthcare (IDH) is a partner in the USEFIL consortium and is tasked with developing a wearable mobile unit or wrist-worn device to monitor behaviour of the wearer through activity, as well as to interface with existing healthcare devices to measure other physiological parameters. We will do this through building on existing expertise in the area of intelligent signal processing, to design a platform that can maximally infer behaviour through actimetry, but which also provides an intelligent platform for data management and health monitoring as a well as a fully-fledged communications portal. We will work on processing and converting raw data in terms of sensors to activities, and will be using sensors such as accelerometers to monitor changes in activity which we have previously designed for use with psychiatric patients.
PhD Research Student:
The PhD student will have a background in the numerate sciences, particularly in engineering, physics, computer science or mathematics – a background in biomedical engineering would be desirable although not essential. The student will be working in developing novel pattern processing techniques for the extraction of information on the well-being of the wearer of the wearable mobile unit we will be designing. To this end knowledge of signal processing, pattern processing/ computational intelligence and programming (C, Java, etc.) as well as the use of Matlab for developing signal processing algorithms, is highly desirable. A background involving engineering, maths, and an undergraduate numerate degree at least at level 2.1 is required for this project. A background in biomedical engineering is not a requirement, but would be an advantage.
- Awards available: 1 award available.
- Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK Level
- Length of Award: 3 years (PhD)
- Eligibility: Due to funding restrictions, this studentship is open to UK/EU applicants only.
- Application Details: Any enquiries relating to the application process should be directed to Jennifer Kirkwood at engd@warwick.ac.uk.
For further information, please visit: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees - Deadline: 31st May 2012
