PhD topics for research students

Find below a list of currently available self-funded PhD topics.

We encourage all students to contact the supervisor or the alternative contact person for more information and an informal chat to discuss the process of applying and preparing your research statement. For more information on how to apply click here.

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Supervisor

Funding

Toward automated vehicle control beyond the stability limits via active drifting control
Professional drivers in drifting competitions demonstrate accurate control over a car's position and sideslip while operating in an open-loop unstable region of state space. Could similar approaches h...

Self Funded

Cultivating virtual embodiment using non-invasive brain stimulation
Virtual embodiment (VE) sense of embodiment is the feeling of one’s own body in relation to its environment. It is related to a sense of self and is considered as the starting point of having self-ide...

Self Funded

Autonomous robots for non-disruptive inspection of utility and sewage systems
Traditional manual maintenance of pipelines which requires digging of ground to get access to pipelines is ineffective because of safety issues, high cost and limited human vision. Thus, serious fault...

Md Nazmul Huda

Self Funded

Deep learning-based autonomous diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract cancers
Gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancer is the leading cause of all cancer deaths. Deep learning-based diagnosis of GI tract diseases has the potential to revolutionise diagnostic speed, accuracy, and cost...

Md Nazmul Huda

Self Funded

The sustainability of hydrogen production for future energy uses
Hydrogen is being promoted as a potentially low-carbon fuel for use in both transport and electricity generation. There are many routes and processes by which hydrogen can be produced, but are any of ...

Colin Axon
Peter Hewitson

Self Funded

Externalisation and Securitisation of Asylum and Migration
The project focuses on the worrying trend of outsourcing asylum responsibilities to third countries but also externalisation at the borders of wealthy countries. The student will work on such question...

Ermioni Xanthopoulou

Self Funded

Prediction of early-age cracking in structural concrete
Concrete structures are popularly used to provide open space areas that are often incorporated into the design of sports, social and industrial structures. One of the concerns with in-situ concrete st...

Kangkang Tang

Self Funded

Developing computational models to understand the evolution of bidirectional catalysts in biology
Proteins are complex biological macromolecules coordinating a plethora of biological functions in the cell. Some proteins, i.e. enzymes, catalyse biological reactions. While some of these reactions ar...

Self Funded

Fracture assessment of large-scale structural components
You will join the internationally recognised researchers in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. This fracture mechanics-oriented research project will be focused on the crack-tip c...

Marius Gintalas

Self Funded

Measuring and reporting on the biodiversity impact of businesses
Biodiversity is in a steady decline since the past few decades. Several reports and peer reviewed articles have highlighted the need for further research on the linkages between biodiversity and busin...

Self Funded