A full-time research position (3 years) is available at the Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, to participate in a European project with the overall goal of Digital Transition of the Circular Economy.

This project is part of a Marie-Curie Doctoral Network, iCircular³ (Intelligent circular lifecycles of industrial robots, outdoor power products, and electric vehicles). There are seven partners, four industry (KUKA Robotics, Ireland; IOTA Stiftung, Germany; Future Mobility Campus, Ireland and Husqvarna, Sweden) and three academic (University College Dublin, Ireland; Imperial College London, UK; Jönköping University, Sweden), who together, will host 9 PhDs. The successful candidate will be based within the Dyson School of Design, Imperial College London, where the PhD Candidate will be located in the I3-Lab (imperial-IOTA-Infrastructures) within Prof. Robert Shortens research group, seconded at Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI) and Husqvarna (HUS). As part of the Marie Curie training programme, the candidate will spend a secondment period of 3 months at FMCI, Ireland and 3 months at HUS in Sweden.

About the Project

Circularity has opened new markets and business opportunities, domestically and outside the EU. However, opportunities are being missed due to low reuse and recycling rates. iCircular³ creates a cohort of future leaders in research, policy, and business through its innovative training programme focused on the Circular Economy. Three leading universities supported by four industry partners will address the incorporation of circular economy principles using digital technologies throughout the product lifecycle, for three innovative and strategic sectors of the European economy: industrial robots, outdoor power products, and electric vehicles.

Each sector will explore the possibilities of a circular lifecycle through four perspectives:

1.      Product and service design: exploring opportunities for circularity in the design of outdoor power products, electric vehicles, and industrial robots.

2.      Reverse supply chains: understanding and overcoming recovery barriers in these industries.

3.      Users and stakeholders: ensuring stakeholder engagement in the transition towards more circularity, for instance by engaging outdoor power product consumers in the development of Reverse Logistics systems and improving the recycling rates of electric vehicles from a consumer perspective.

4.      Systems: developing digital tools and decision support systems that foster circularity.

 iCircular³ will recruit and train 9 Researchers to conduct sector-specific projects related to circular lifecycle perspectives; combined, the projects will contribute to the development of new guidelines and digital tools for the integration of circularity in industry, as well as the identification of cross-sector commonalities. The strong academic/industry interaction in iCircular³ will ensure the relevance of each research project. Researchers will receive high-level industry-led research training and professional development courses, with a view to opening their career perspectives.

The specific goal of this project is to build a digital tool to enable product as a service infrastructure. This is based on different ownership models, for single-owner goods and shared goods such as outdoor power products or Evs. The digital tool and infrastructure should enable such products and services to be deployed. Issues to be explored include digital notions of identity, ownership, and sovereignty, as well as markets where such goods can be exchanged. Algorithms for dimensioning services, and congestion management, will be developed and implemented as part of our solution. The applicability of the developed tool will be tested based on case studies in FMCI and HUS.

Position

The successful candidate is offered a 3-year full-time contract with Imperial College London. Additionally, they will receive highly specialised training, making them an expert in circular economy and its digital transition as well as being aware of market opportunities. The candidate will benefit from a training scheme developed based on the expertise of academic and industrial partners. This project will reach a new level of understanding of the circular economy of long-lasting products and how circular life cycles and business models can be created, with directly applicable results to European industry.

Qualifications / Expertise:

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in computer science, mathematical sciences, design engineering, electrical engineering, data science, machine learning or equivalent as appropriate to their specific project topic. This position requires advanced software development knowledge and maths.

·        The candidate should be able to display a strong aptitude and enthusiasm for Engineering Research at postgraduate level.

·        Applications from suitably qualified female applicants are particularly welcome.

Key Responsibilities:

·        To manage and carry out their research projects within 36 months

·        To write a PhD thesis

·        To write articles for scientific peer-reviewed journals

·        To write progress reports and prepare results for publication and dissemination via public lectures, presentations and the web

·        To participate in research and training activities within the iCircular³ network

·        To disseminate their research in the scientific community (international conferences) and non-scientific community, by outreach and public engagement

·        To liaise with the other research staff and students working in broad areas of relevance to the research project and partner institutions.

Funding Agency:

The project is funded by the UKRI.

Start Date:

From January 2023 – June 2023

How to Apply:

To begin the process, please first read the descriptions of the research topic. The topic is not firmly fixed, and it may change as the successful candidate develops their Ph.D. proposal. Write a letter of application addressed to Dr Pezhman Ghadimi (pezhman.ghadimi@ucd.ie) and Prof. Nikolaos Papakostas (nikolaos.papakostas@ucd.ie), project coordinators, together with Prof. Robert Shorten (r.shorten@imperial.ac.uk), Dr Elena Dieckmann (elena.dieckmann13@imperial.ac.uk). In your application letter, (1) introduce yourself, explaining your motivation to join the iCircular³ Marie-Curie Doctoral Network project network, and (2) describe your previous relevant experience and your best project/research work to date.

Please send the application package, incl. (1) an application letter, (2) an updated CV including prior education and all publications, (3) Bachelor and Masters transcripts, and (4) the contact details of three referees, all in one single PDF file by email to the above emails by 28 February 2023. 

This PhD project will investigate the co-design of digital musical instruments which support rich sensory experience and responsiveness to the aesthetic values of collaborating musicians. 

Digital musical instrument (DMI) design typically involves a balance of engineering skill, artistic sensibility and engagement with a surrounding musical community. Participatory design and co-design methods are well established across many domains of engineering and human-computer interaction, often starting from conversational processes of ideation and conceptualisation. However, asking people to verbally describe hypothetical instruments that do not yet exist tends to yield a limited pool of creative ideas, even as musicians excel at discovering the creative potential of new digital and physical objects. This PhD project instead explores musical instrument co-creation as a bottom-up process of curiosity and exploration, wherein musicians discover interesting sonic phenomena in physical or digital systems and develop those phenomena into instruments that respond to their own musical values.

This PhD is part of the RUDIMENTS project, a UKRI-funded ERC Consolidator Grant exploring the cultural implications of engineering decisions in music technology.  The successful candidate will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team considering the aesthetics, culture, politics and ethics of music technology as part of a reciprocal process of design and analysis. The successful candidate will join the Augmented Instruments Laboratory (http://instrumentslab.org) in the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College London.

The ideal candidate should have experience in the design of digital musical instruments or similar technologies. Relevant technical skills include audio programming (particularly real-time audio) and electronic hardware design, including sensors and embedded systems. Some practical musical experience is essential (whether as performer, composer or other role, in any genre, with or without formal qualifications). Research experience is also desirable, for example in human-computer interaction, electronic or design engineering, musicology or media studies.

Applicants of any nationality are invited to apply. Applications are particularly welcome from groups traditionally under-represented in engineering and music technology research, including neurodivergent or disabled individuals. Applicants should typically have a Master's-level qualification at UK Distinction or high Merit level (or international equivalent), but applications will be considered from those with first-class undergraduate degrees with research experience, or from people with non-traditional career paths.

Please contact andrew.mcpherson@imperial.ac.uk for more information. 

Qualification type: PhD
Location: London
Department/Division/Faculty: Dyson School of Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering 
Salary: £19,668 tax free stipend

About the Project

A full-time research position (3.5 years) is available within the Advanced Manufacturing Group, Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, to participate in an EPSRC Programme Grant; Oncological Engineering - A new concept in the treatment of bone metastases. 

There is growing interest in using 3D printing to fabricate medical devices and implants from polymer materials due to the numerous benefits this advanced manufacturing process provides. 3D printing offers engineers a vast design space enabling the mass customisation of patient specific implants with sophisticated meta material mechanisms embedded within them. This project will focus on Vat-polymerisation technologies (e.g. SLA, DLP). This form of 3D printing is commonly used to create complex geometries from single materials with high resolution and smooth surface finish. However, there is currently a lack of suitable build materials that meet the requirements for most medical uses. Materials should be biocompatible, non-toxic, and sustain the complex loading conditions experienced by implants.  

The PhD candidate will join an exciting multi-disciplinary consortium of universities and industry partners.  Metastatic bone disease, commonly referred to as secondary tumours, has been called a new emergency in oncology in breast cancer patients. The aim is to provide an innovative novel implant to overcome the challenges presented by bone metastases in the spine. The implant comprises a personalised, lesion-specific metamaterial which would be used prophylactically i.e. before fracture. No current 3D printing technology permits the necessary build size, resolution and speed required for this type of implant. The PhD candidate will work with a team of researchers developing a novel micro-Vat polymerisation printer which, for the first time, allows the delivery of the specified implant. The PhD candidate will focus on the development of photo-curable resins, carefully formulated to optimise manufacturability and material properties, to enable the next-generation of 3D printed polymer implants. In addition, the project will investigate the inclusion of additive elements that improve mechanical properties, radiopacity and potential delivery supplementary functionality. This will involve hands on development of the printer, material formulation, and material characterisation studies.

To find out more about the Oncological Engineering project please visit the webpage https://oncoeng.org/.

Position

The successful candidate is offered a 3.5-year full-time contract with Imperial College London. The candidate will be well supported by the Oncological Engineering team, work closely with several research assistants across Design Engineering and Aeronautics departments, as well as leading industrial partners. The candidate will benefit from a training scheme developed based on the expertise of academic and industrial partners. It is expected that the role holder will work towards generating research outputs suitable for academic publications, attendance to project meetings and communications with various stakeholders.

The post is funded through an EPSRC Programme Grant, it is a multi-university, multi-disciplinary project with large industrial support. The holder will need to engage with a broad team across numerous scientific disciplines, present and communicate their work within this network and beyond at international conferences.

Duties and Responsibilities   

The successful candidate will be expected to:   

• Perform research tasks aimed at developing photo-curable polymers and characterise material properties. 
• Write original research papers and submit them for publication in peer-reviewed international journals. Disseminate the results of the research by attending international conferences. 
• Regularly compile technical reports and presentations; attend all the project meetings and complete the required training. 
• Promote the work of the group at academic conferences .

Skills, knowledge and experience   

Ideal skills, knowledge and experience include:   

• A MEng or MSc degree (or equivalent experience and/or qualifications) in an area pertinent to the research topic, i.e. Biology, Chemistry, Material Science, or Engineering. 
• You must have a high standard undergraduate degree at 1st class or 2nd upper class level (or international equivalent). 
• You must have excellent communication skills and be able to organise your own work and prioritise work to meet deadlines. 
• A strong track record, or interest in Additive Manufacture is a must. 
• Working in a research environment and good practice in research . 
• A keen interest and desire to work in a scientific laboratory.
• Publication in relevant and refereed journals . 
• Working in or with industry . 

Funding: This studentship is supported by a bursary and full fees at UK student rate.

Start Date:

From April 2023 – October 2023

How to Apply:

To begin the process, please first read the descriptions of the research topic. The topic is not firmly fixed, and it may change as the successful candidate develops their Ph.D. proposal. Write a letter of application addressed to Dr Connor Myant (connor.myant@imperial.ac.uk). In your application letter, (1) introduce yourself, explaining your motivation to join the Oncology Engineering project, and (2) describe your previous relevant experience and your best project/research work to date.

Please send the application package, incl. (1) an application letter, (2) an updated CV including prior education and all publications, (3) Bachelor and Masters transcripts, and (4) the contact details of three referees, to connor.myant@imperial.ac.uk by 6th of March 2023.

A fully funded ESRC PhD studentship is available for excellent candidates to undertake research on sustainability transitions, net-zero and circular economy. The studentship is available on either +3 (PhD only) or 1+3 (Master and PhD) routes and the award from the ESRC will cover:

·        The full UKRI Home Tuition Fee (£4,596 per annum 2022 - 23) for the duration of the award at the student’s host institution.

Plus

·        A stipend / maintenance allowance valued at £19,688 per annum (2022-23) for full-time doctoral programmes. Please note that stipends are tax-free.

The successful candidate will join a vibrant and interdisciplinary research team at Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College London and benefit from the extensive training opportunities and research networks of the ESRC London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership. They will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with the British Chambers of Commerce and benefit from access to wide-ranging business networks across the UK and globally.

Entry requirements for PhD programme: PhD applicants are expected to have a First Class (Distinction) Degree or equivalent at Masters level in a relevant engineering, economics, business, design, social sciences or another scientific discipline. In exceptional cases where extensive research/industry experience can be demonstrated, candidates with a UK-equivalent of 2:1 (Merit) at Masters level can be considered. 

Application Process and Deadline: Please email: p.demirel@imperial.ac.uk with your CV and a short explanation of your research interests before 11 February 2023 17:00.

Project Summary:

Achieving the UK’s net-zero target to decarbonize all sectors by 2050 requires a landmark change in the economy. It is expected that companies will have to eliminate their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, while significantly reducing their Scope 3 emissions by 2050. Yet, a recent large-scale survey by British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) shows that most firms are significantly behind in their net-zero journey: Majority of the firms do not understand and measure their environmental impact and they lack sound action plans to achieve the emissions reduction targets for 2050. Green labour skills (i.e. technical and managerial) and firms capabilities (i.e. technological and organizational) are going to be important levers for effectively engaging UK firms into the net-zero transition.

This research project, jointly undertaken by Imperial College London and British Chambers of Commerce, will generate a taxonomy of green skills and capabilities that will be essential for UK’s net-zero transition. It will also generate insights towards the complex relationships that green skills and capabilities have with firms’ economic and environmental performance. The study will combine a diverse range of research methods to address this complex matter effectively. These include a systematic review of the academic and policy literatures on green debates, statistical and qualitative analyses of firm data and participatory stakeholder workshops.

Qualification type: PhD

Location: London

Funding for: UK Students, EU and non-EU (Overseas) Students

Funding amount: £19,668 tax free stipend p.a. plus a performance and experience based increment.

Abstract

The overall aim of the project is to advance material selection for packaging used in regulated consumer goods ensuring that they meet sustainability and circularity targets. In collaboration with Procter & Gamble, the research will focus on sustainable material selection for Personal Health Care (PHC) products. The research aim will be achieved by developing a tool to help understand the performance of materials, components and products as they flow through the systems in the whole life cycle of regulated consumer goods. The specific objectives are to: 1) review and understand current material selection practices for packaging used in regulated consumer goods; 2) research the factors influencing the specification, circular flow, and performance of materials, components and products in the whole life cycle, investigating, in particular, the constraints posed by recovery systems and legal and regulatory frameworks; and 3) develop a new tool for sustainable material selection supporting holistic understanding and integration of socio, technical, environmental and regulatory factors.

Applicant requirements

We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate academic excellence and outstanding research potential. Applicants should have at least a good upper second class (2:1) UK honours degree (or equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK) and preferably a Master’s degree in Design, Manufacturing, Engineering, Management or a related subject. Interest and expertise in Sustainable Design and Manufacturing, the Circular Economy, Industrial Ecology, Closed Loop Systems and Resource Efficiency will be valued. Candidates with industrial experience are highly encouraged to apply. In addition, good team-working and communication skills are essential.

Funding

The post is supported by an industrial Cooperative Award in Science & Technology (i-CASE) studentship covering stipend and fees for 4 years (at the UK/EU student rate) provided by the EPSRC and Procter & Gamble.

This studentship is open to UK, EU and non-EU students.

Research environment

The award will provide the selected PhD student with a first-rate, challenging research training experience, within the context of a mutually beneficial research collaboration between the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College London and Procter & Gamble.

You will work within a passionate and dynamic team of researchers and innovators in the Dyson School of Design Engineering. The School was formed in 2014, building on the long-standing design and engineering expertise at Imperial as well as the world-renowned Innovation Design Engineering programme run jointly by Imperial and the Royal College of Art.

The award also provides access to training, facilities and expertise not available in an academic setting alone as the student is expected to take placements at Procter & Gamble. The student will have an academic and an industrial supervisor, and an opportunity to develop a range of valuable skills and significantly enhance their future employability.

Enquiry contact details

Informal inquiries should be sent to Dr. Marco Aurisicchio: m.aurisicchio@imperial.ac.uk, along with a CV. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a formal PhD application via the College’s online admissions system.

Deadline dates

Apply as soon as possible and by 28 February.