Current projects

Summary

Join EduVision, an innovative project using machine vision to enhance automated feedback in hands-on learning. Work across disciplines, collaborating with Mechanical Engineering, Medicine, Physics, Aeronautics, and Electrical Engineering to develop smarter, real-time assessment methods.

There are two exciting opportunities available collaborating with the team on this project:

Virtual Workshop

This project aims to extend an existing virtual reality machining workshop into a more accessible, cross-platform learning environment that can run on tablets and laptops (programming done by the Digital Media Lab). The current provision relies on a live VR setup; the studentship will focus on creating a fully interactive digital model (CAD) of key workshop equipment, starting with a milling machine, and later incorporating a pillar drill, to enable students to practise machining operations in a virtual setting.

The role will involve developing structured virtual exercises that guide students through safe and effective use of subtractive manufacturing equipment, with a strong emphasis on engagement, usability, and clarity of interaction. Working closely with the Digital Media Lab and technicians, the student partner will help translate real workshop practices into intuitive virtual tasks that support skill development prior to physical lab sessions.

A core component of the project is the integration of mechanisms to capture student feedback and usage data, allowing the educational impact of the virtual machining environment to be systematically evaluated and refined.

RC Racing Car

This project focuses on developing a machine vision–based student experience enhancement application within EduVision. The current prototype can recognise artefacts and components of a radio-controlled racing car, but the learning workflow is only partially implemented. The studentship will transform this prototype into a complete educational experience by designing structured, engaging follow-up tasks and automated feedback that are triggered after each recognised component.

The role will involve content generation, UX design, and pedagogically informed interaction design to ensure that each recognition event leads to meaningful learning activities that support conceptual understanding and practical skills. A key requirement is the integration of an in-app feedback collection mechanism so that student engagement, perceived usefulness, and learning impact can be systematically monitored and evaluated.

The project will be delivered in collaboration with the Aeronautics Department and will contribute to research on technology-enhanced learning, automated feedback, and student feedback literacy within hands-on engineering education.

Project Lead

Alexis Ihracska (a.ihracska@imperial.ac.uk) Senior Teaching Fellow, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Further Details/Experience Required

Both positions are for nine weeks and 3 days full-time during Summer break, with some flexibility on timings.  

Both positions would be appropriate for students with an Engineering background, although students with a strong analytical approach, solid CAD skills and a keen interest in educational technology and research will be considered.  All year groups eligible apart from final year students.  

EduVision - Machine vision Virtual Workshop recruitment ad

EduVision - Machine vision RC Racing car recruitment ad

Summary

Driven by Imperial's strategic commitment to advancing feedback practice and student learning in an AI-enabled educational landscape, and informed by insights from the FLAIR (Feedback and Learning: AI-Assisted &
Reimagined) research project, we aim to take a proactive approach by creating opportunities for Imperial
undergraduate students to engage critically with GenAI-assisted feedback and reflect on their experiences.

Essentially, we seek to co-develop a suite of flexible, evidence-based resources (e.g., infographics, videos,
animations, posters, podcasts, flashcards, or postcards) that support students in understanding what constitutes
effective feedback and how Generative AI can be used responsibly, ethically and efficiently within feedback
practices. The work will build on the rich empirical data collected during the FLAIR research phase,
including student perspectives on feedback experiences and GenAI-assisted feedback. Your involvement as
student partners is essential, and your insights and experiences will play a key role in co-creating resources that
are engaging, inclusive and meaningful for the wider Imperial community.

Project Lead

Tiffany Chiu (t.chiu@imperial.ac.uk), Principal Teaching Fellow in Educational Development, Centre for Higher Education Research and Scholarship

Further Details/Experience Required

Four positions available - undergraduate students from FoE, Natural Sciences and FoM.  

9 weeks full-time during Summer break, followed by the opportunity for part-time term-time work between September and December.  

FLAIR recruitment ad

Summary

The two StudentShapers will engage with the staff partner to facilitate the transfer of the Learning How to Learn training programme to an online format for broader student reach. The training programme aims to help students learn and use effective learning strategies. The partnership will involve familiarisation with the programme, designing active learning exercises, and script writing for videos that will form part of the online programme.

The partnership will finish with producing these videos and we envisage that StudentShapers will take an active role in their development. On-screen appearances are up to the StudentShapers but are highly recommended for further career development. Opportunities for two-way feedback will be incorporated throughout all stages of the partnership.

Project Lead

Magda Charalambous (m.charalambous@imperial.ac.uk), Principal Lecturer, Department of Life Sciences

Vlad Grozev (v.grozev@imperial.ac.uk), Research Associate in Educational Research, Department of Life Sciences

Further Details/Experience Required

Two positions available - students from any department or faculty, or level of study

2 weeks full-time during Summer break - 13th-24th July.  

Learning How to Learn recruitment ad

Summary

This is a chance to help redesign a core third-year Aeronautics lab and make a real contribution to how AERO60007 is taught in future years.

Working in partnership with staff, you will help review the current lab, test possible replacement platforms such as a micro-quadrotor, hovercraft, or indoor blimp, and shape recommendations for the future laboratory. You will get involved in hands-on prototyping, usability and robustness testing, and discussions about what makes a control lab engaging, practical, and educationally valuable for students.

Project Lead

Eric Kerrigan (e.kerrigan@imperial.ac.uk), Professor of Control and Optimization, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Siti Ros Shamsuddin (s.shamsuddin07@imperial.ac.uk), Principal Teaching Fellow, Department of Aeronautics

Further Details/Experience Required

3 positions available.  8 weeks full-time during Summer break.  

Current Year 3 Aeronautics students taking AERO60007 are especially encouraged to apply. We will also welcome strong applications from Year 2 Aeronautics students, or students in related departments with relevant experience or a clear interest in control, coding, and experimental systems.

Redesigning the AERO60007 Control Systems Lab recruitment ad

Summary

Students often encounter process control in laboratory and practical settings before fully understanding the underlying theoretical principles. While simulation tools exist, many are static and idealised, limiting opportunities for exploration, experimentation, and deeper engagement with real-world control challenges. The aim of the project is to develop an AI-driven, game-based learning environment that bridges theory and practice, helping students learn and apply process control concepts while interacting with realistic system behaviour in an inclusive, accessible and interactive format.

Student and staff partners will co-design and implement the tool, integrating AI-driven methods, including Large Language Models and Reinforcement learning, within a human-in-the-loop framework to generate dynamic, realistic control scenarios that adapt to user interactions. The tool will personalise scenarios and explanations based on learners’ responses, offering alternative perspectives when concepts are not yet fully understood. Rather than following predefined instructions, students will be able to experiment freely, learn through trial and error, and progressively develop confidence and an intuition for how control systems behave in practice.

As a student partner, you will:

• Co-design simulation scenarios, helping shape features that make them intuitive and educationally valuable.
• Test the simulator’s usability and evaluate its clarity and learning impact.
• Collaborate with staff in a shared decision-making process to innovate curricula and improve students’ learning experiences.

Project Lead

Mohamed Maher (mohamed.maher18@imperial.ac.uk), Process Control Engineer, Department of Chemical Engineering

Further Details/Experience Required

2 positions available.  Undergraduates from Chemical Engineering, Computing or Mathematics would be most eligible.  

Eight weeks full time during Summer break.

AI Driven PC Simulator recruitment ad

Summary

You will work with your staff partners to co-design a short, self-paced introduction to programming via Python for Imperial offer-holders. The resource will take a multimodal form, viz., written explanations, annotated examples, brief video or audio demonstrations, and interactive exercises, including the use of GenAI-assisted coding.
Your input will be instrumental in the design and calibration of the resources, with the aim to demystify programming, establish foundational concepts, and give incoming students an optional, low-stakes, early programming practice. You will work towards delivering a student-centred pre-arrival Python ‘crash course’ as a trusted Imperial based single pathway into programming.

Project Lead

Konstantinos Gkoutzis (k.gkoutzis@imperial.ac.uk), Principal Teaching Fellow, Department of Computing

Iro Ntonia (i.ntonia@imperial.ac.uk), Principal Teaching Fellow,  Centre for Higher Education Research and Scholarship

Further Details/Experience Required

Two positions available for Imperial students from any department or faculty.  

Between 18th May and 21st August - starting at part-time in term-time and full-time in Summer break.  

Python Primer recruitment ad

Summary

Educators routinely use role models and historical figures to introduce concepts and relationships. In science and engineering, these characters are typically white, Western men, which impacts students’ self-identity and sense of belonging. Contextualizing the Curriculum (CtC) will expand curricula to include modern-day diverse figures, cultures, and perspectives. This initiative is not solely concerned with knowledge but also place, power, purpose and identity. In this StudentShapers project, we will work on diversifying the ESE and Materials UG curriculum content and resources and implement new teaching strategies. This important and challenging project will be conducted in partnership with students and staff across multiple job families in Materials and Earth Sciences.

The ongoing and active involvement of StudentShapers, will catalyse the success of CtC. This project will build on a collaborative effort between staff and students who will develop an authentic partnership. Imperial students are the best-placed people to determine how and why modern-day relevant figures and diverse cultures impact their studies, sense of belonging and university experience.

What you will do: You will help creating a website that includes a database of diverse role models and content that contextualises knowledge and understanding. You will contribute to implement the CtC project at departmental and Imperial scales (e.g. help with delivery of the CtC I-Explore module). You will also develop an evaluation framework (including focus group and interviews) to understand the impact of contextualized curricula on student’s self-identity and sense of belonging and write Educational Research papers.

Project Lead

Valentin Laurent (v.laurent@imperial.ac.uk), Senior Teaching Fellow in Pedagogic Transformation, Department of Earth Science & Engineering

Eleonora D'Elia (eleonora.delia10@imperial.ac.uk), Senior Teaching Fellow, Department of Materials

Jessica Wade (jessica.wade@imperial.ac.uk), Assistant Professor in Functional Materials, Department of Materials

Sophia Quazi (s.quazi@imperial.ac.uk), Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Coordinator,  Department of Mechanical Engineering

Further Details/Experience Required

Two positions available for UG students from ESE or Materials departments.  One position available for a PhD student from the same departments.  

UG positions: Part-time between May 2026, and July 2027, with an opportunity for three weeks full-time in July 2026.  

PhD position: Part-time between May 2026 and July 2027.  

Contextualising the Curriculum WP3 2026 pt recruitment ad

Summary

The Bridges Programme is a flagship initiative in the Faculty of Natural Sciences designed to support the transition of first-year undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds into university life. Building on the success of the programme, we are now seeking student partners to help co-create a new Bridges Leadership & Skills Development Programme.

This project will explore how the Bridges Programme can support students from underrepresented identities beyond their first year by developing leadership skills, confidence and a stronger sense of belonging at Imperial.

You will contribute to designing the future direction of the Bridges Programme by co-creating a leadership and skills development initiative that reflects the diverse experiences and ambitions of students in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

You may be involved in researching leadership development programmes, gathering student and staff feedback through surveys or focus groups, and co-designing the vision, structure and activities for a new Bridges leadership initiative for its launch in the 26/27 academic year.

Project Lead

Emma Mattin (fonsedandedi@imperial.ac.uk), Education and EDI Coordinator, Faculty of Natural Sciences

Further Details/Experience Required

Four positions available, two undergraduate Faculty of Natural Sciences students.  

Eight weeks full-time during Summer break.  

Bridges 2026 recruitment ad

Summary

The project aims to develop a prosthetics based design challenge, to become the major assessment in the compulsory design and professional practice module from 2027 onwards. Potential ideas include development of a 2 finger gripper or a sport prosthetic.  

This StudentShapers project aims to use the design process to identify a suitable project idea and develop the appropriate resources to enable this to become part of the curriculum. 

Project Lead

Maria Parkes (maria.parkes04@imperial.ac.uk), Principal Teaching Fellow, Department of Bioengineering

Further Details/Experience Required

We are looking to recruit two students starting Monday 29th June 2026, full-time for 8 weeks. 

Students would ideally be recruited from Bioengineering, with experience of the Design and Professional Practice module. Students from other engineering departments at Imperial could also apply.  Membership of the prosthetics society or project experience in prosthetics would be highly desirable. 

Students must have experience of an engineering design module and an interest in prosthetics. We are looking for students with good team-working skills, who can manage their time effectively and can demonstrate that they are proactive in working towards goals. Practical workshop skills and/or prior experience with generating digital content are desirable. 

Redesigning the design challenge recruitment ad

Summary

This project aims to transform structural engineering education by introducing haptic, touch-based feedback to help kinaesthetic learners intuitively understand counter-intuitive physical concepts. As a co-designer during a 12-week summer placement, you will draw on your own experience of learning structural engineering in the Department of Aeronautical Engineering to identify threshold concepts where students historically struggle to translate mathematical theory into physical intuition. You will implement specific learning scenarios using the OpenSoftHaptics toolkit (jointly developed by researchers at Imperial and MIT), designing virtual structural components and calibrating the interface so that a virtual structural failure feels physically instructive in the user's hand. Finally, you will co-lead an evaluation lab session during Freshers’ Week to determine if this pioneering physical digital twin approach successfully lowers the barrier to understanding these vital engineering principles.

Project Lead

Joshua Brown (joshua.brown@imperial.ac.uk), Research Fellow, Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery

Demetrios Venetsanos (d.venetsanos@imperial.ac.uk), Principal Teaching Fellow (Student Experience), Department of Aeronautics

Further Details/Experience Required

One position available for 12 weeks full-time,  ideally to be filled by a student in the final two years of a degree in Aeronautical Engineering (any stream).

Haptics for aeronautical structures recruitment ad 25-26

Summary

This project aims to understand how skills and competencies in the area of sustainability are/can be developed in our Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Bioengineering and Biomedical Technology Ventures programmes in the department of Bioengineering. Whilst at an individual module level aspects of sustainability are discussed, how these fit together across the curriculum to allow our students to develop a deep understanding of the complex issues is not clear to our students, or to staff generally. Having a clear overview would allow the department to address gaps and build on best practice. 

To do this the project team, comprising of three teaching staff and three students will undergo a mapping exercise using a framework developed by the university of Sheffield, with support from their team.  

This project is a trial of the framework and methodology, which will allow us to examine how we can collaborate with students to understand their experience across modules and how they see skills to be developed. As a direct result of this project we expect to produce: 

• A map of our three undergraduate programmes in terms of where key competences in sustainability are introduced, developed and assessed.  

• Recommendations to module leaders for 'quick wins' 

• A summary identifying area of weakness to be addressed strategically by the departments teaching committee 

• A pilot of a student facing interactive mapping tool so our undergraduates can see how they are developing skills across our programmes 

Project Lead

Maria Parkes (maria.parkes04@imperial.ac.uk), Principal Teaching Fellow,  Department of Bioengineering

Further Details/Experience Required

Part-time at one half-day a week for ten weeks, starting 13th January.  

Undergraduate Bioengineering students from years 2-5, with an interest in sustainability are eligible and encouraged to apply.  

Mapping and Embedding Sustainability in Bioengineering UG ad

Summary

This project will research the development of competencies through I-Explore. It will draw on student and staff perspectives from their different departments and faculties to consider the different contexts from which students engage with I-Explore.

The project will use its findings to offer suggestions for how competencies could better be signposted in the communication of I-Explore. It will also provide insight into the competencies that students and teachers would like opportunities to develop further.

Project Lead

Mark Pope (mark.pope@imperial.ac.uk), Senior Teaching Fellow, Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication

Further Details/Experience Required

Part-time for 20 weeks between October 2025 and March 2026.  Four positions available.  

Undergraduate students from any Faculty.  Particularly interested in recruiting students studying in the faculties of Engineering or Medicine, or with experience of STEMM or BPES modules on I-Explore.

(See recruitment ad for Project Skills details)

I-Explore Competencies recruitment ad

Summary

Are you a Mathematics student interested in how mathematical ideas are taught, explained, and communicated? Would you like to work in partnership with teaching staff to shape innovative teaching materials for future maths students?

This project brings together undergraduate Mathematics students and teaching staff to co-create learning materials for a Communicating Mathematics module.  The focus is on designing engaging resources that help students explain mathematical reasoning clearly and communicate quantitative analysis effectively.  

Student partners will play a central role in shaping both the content and delivery of these materials, ensuring they are relevant, accessible, and grounded in real student experience.  

As a student partner, you will be involved throughout the design, development, and evaluation stages of the project.  Your contribution may include:

• Working alongside staff in planning meetings and collaborative design sessions.
• Co-developing discovery-based activities focused on communicating mathematical ideas.
• Identifying where additional scaffolding or clearer explanations would support student learning.
• Testing draft materials and providing iterative feedback from a learner's perspective.
• Supporting dissemination activities, such as presenting at workshops or contributing to short blog posts or case studies.  

Exact activities will be agreed collaboratively by the project team.  

Project Lead

Ioanna Papatsouma (i.papatsouma@imperial.ac.uk), Principle Teaching Fellow, Department of Mathematics

Further Details/Experience Required

Part-time from the end of February to June, for 17 weeks (four hours a week).

Applicable to Undergraduate students in the Mathematics department, in Year 2 or above.  

Co-Creating teaching materials for a Communicating Mathematics module ad

Summary

The Silwood Language Exchange programme will facilitate a conversation exchange between students and/or staff, for practise speaking a language informally. The programme will be inclusive for our whole student body, and will encourage everyone to take part, overseas students may want to practice English conversationally, which home students could offer and learn a new language or brush up on their existing skills. The programme will match people with different language back grounds. Offering a weekly space where people can come together in arranged pairs and take turns practising a language. The programme will also offer a social event/s.
Student shapers will collaborate with staff to design and implement this programme, including facilitating the weekly Language Exchange Sessions, which will commence late October 2025. 
As part of this project our Student Shapers will develop their project management, communication, and resource development skills as they work in partnership with department staff to design and roll out the programme. 
This work is scheduled for three hours a week for four weeks in the autumn term and the spring terms (8 weeks of work 
in total).

Project Lead

Clara Bradberry (c.scott@imperial.ac.uk), Student Experience Coordinator, Department of Life Sciences (Silwood Park)

Further Details/Experience Required

Part-time for eight weeks over the Spring and Autumn term.  Eligible for incoming Life Sciences Masters and PhD students based at Silwood Park campus.  Those with an interest in student experience and languages would be particularly of interest.  3 positions available.  

(See recruitment ad for Project Skills details)

Silwood Park exchange recruitment ad

Summary

Following a grant from Presidents Community Fund the Chaplaincy Multi-Faith Centre aims to build a new community garden to create a space of belonging and well-being. The Chaplaincy seeks to collaborate with students to design and build this space for the community.

These support roles seek to reward and formalise the organic “knowledge-share” between students and staff that already exists at the garden. Students will work under a stewardship model with the space, sharing agency over its design, evolution and maintenance. 

Project Lead

Andrew Willson (chaplaincy@imperial.ac.uk) , College Chaplain, Chaplaincy

Further Details/Experience Required

Part-time for 25 weeks from Autumn term.   Four positions available.  

Undergraduate students from any Faculty.  Particularly those interested in gardening and regeneration of university space.

(See recruitment ad for Project Skills details)

Chaplaincy Gardening Project continuation recruitment ad

Summary

Do you want to help shape how future Imperial students understand assessment and feedback from day one? This project will bring together students and staff to co-create engaging, practical resources that make assessment expectations and feedback processes clearer, more accessible, and more useful for new students.
The project builds on recent StudentShapers work and the university-wide Assessment & Feedback Review, which have highlighted that many students still find assessment requirements unclear and feedback hard to access or use. Together, we’ll explore what’s currently offered to new students, identify gaps, and design new resources that are relatable, student-informed, and ready for departments to use in their 2026 inductions.
As a StudentShaper, you will be a partner in all stages of the project, from discovery to creation to testing. You’ll contribute your own perspective on assessment, help gather and analyse feedback from peers and staff, and work with other students and staff to design and trial new resources. Possible outputs might include short videos, podcasts, workshop activities, and practical guides – but the exact format will be shaped by the project team, including you.

Project Lead

Emma Passmore (e.passmore@imperial.ac.uk), Principal Teaching Fellow, Department of Earth Science & Engineering

Ioanna Papatsouma (i.papatsouma@imperial.ac.uk), Senior Teaching Fellow in Statistics, Department of Mathematics

Timothy Kimber (timothy.kimber06@imperial.ac.uk), Senior Teaching Fellow, Department of Computing

Jonathan Rackham (j.rackham@imperial.ac.uk), Senior Strategic Teaching Fellow, Department of Materials

Further Details/Experience Required

Part-time for 20 weeks between October 2025 and March 2026.  Four positions available.  

Undergraduate students from any Faculty or department, from Year 2 or above.  

(See recruitment ad for Project Skills details)

Effective A&F Literacy Materials recruitment ad