Call open for collaborative Master’s project proposals

Academics and industrial researchers are invited to submit project outlines for the 2023-24 Molecular Engineering MRes course

IMSE invites academics and external partners to submit outline proposals for Masters projects for the 2023-24 IMSE Master's course, the Molecular Engineering MRes at Imperial College London. The programme includes a 6 month cross-disciplinary research project with an external research placement. Participation in MRes projects is a great opportunity to initiate, consolidate or develop links with industry (or other non-academic external partners), and collaborations with colleagues in other departments at Imperial. These projects are also an excellent way to explore initial proof-of-concept studies, in advance of e.g. a CASE or CDT PhD proposal. There is no limit to the number of proposals that an academic or external partner can submit. 

Cross-disciplinary training at the interface of science and engineering 

This unique programme, developed in partnership with industry, trains graduates from physical science and engineering backgrounds to work in the field of molecular science and engineering.  Students develop the cross-disciplinary expertise to work on exciting challenges at the interface of science and engineering. The taught modules provide a grounding in designing, making, manufacturing, modelling, characterising and measuring molecules and materials – from atomic scale to systems level. Students then undertake a cross-disciplinary research project in collaboration with an external partner – usually industrial, or an NHS trust, national lab/facility, or cultural heritage organisation.  

Research placement 

Projects are planned in collaboration with the external partner, to investigate a topic or challenge that is of value to both partners. The student’s research placement could be a 3-month long extended placement or a series of shorter visits, at a site in the UK, EU or overseas. Remote placements, where the research is undertaken entirely at Imperial, under the joint supervision of the academic and external supervisors, are possible in some circumstances.  IMSE can facilitate matching of academic supervisors with industry partners.  External partners are expected to cover the student’s placement travel and accommodation costs, and to contribute to the research project costs.  

Invitation to sandpit event 

IMSE is pleased to invite Imperial academics and potential external partners to participate in an online project sandpit event, 13.00-14.00 BST on Friday 28th April. Contact Dr Steph Pendlebury for details.

Submit your proposal 

The deadline for submitting your project outline is 14th July – submit your proposal via the short electronic project outline form. Sponsorship from the external partner must be confirmed by September at the latest. 

This call is open to academics and Fellows (whose contract ends after September 2024) from any department at Imperial, and to companies (or other non-academic external partners) who have a suitable research challenge and can host a student for the research placement.   

Please contact IMSE Institute Manager, Dr Steph Pendlebury (s.pendlebury@imperial.ac.uk), for more information. An overview of some previous projects can be found here; if you have an idea for a project but you’re not sure if it’s suitable, please do get in touch.