Design Engineering PhD Scholarship 21

Sensing the Mind: Designing Wearable Systems for Emotional Insight and Anxiety Understanding

Abstract
This PhD project explores how wearable technologies can be designed to detect, interpret, and support the management of anxiety in everyday contexts. As physiological sensing becomes increasingly integrated into personal devices, understanding how these data reflect lived emotional experience is vital. The research investigates the relationship between physiological signals, contextual factors, and subjective anxiety, developing models that link bodily data to psychological states. Using a combination of biosensing experiments, machine learning, and participatory design, the project aims to create evidence-based frameworks for ethical, human-centred wearable systems that enhance wellbeing and self-awareness while safeguarding emotional privacy.

How to Apply 
Please contact Dr Nejra van Zalk if you are interested in applying for this project. 

For more information on submitting a PhD application, please consult our application pages here. When you submit your application, please cite this project title in the 'how you are planning to fund your PhD' section. 

The deadline for submitting your application is 09 January 2026.