PhD Studentship - Vision Language Models for Micro-Expression Analysis
- Manchester, United Kingdom
Micro-expressions are tiny, involuntary facial movements that can occur when a person tries to hide an emotion, but are difficult to analyse because they are subtle, short-lived, and easily confused with ordinary facial movement. While many methods have been developed to recognise and localise micro-expressions, these results remain difficult to understand. The proposed models will be designed to identify where the relevant facial evidence occurs, describe what subtle change has been observed, and explain why a prediction has been made. The project will deliver new methods, benchmark protocols
PhD Studentship: Lightweight Trust-Aware Private Federated Learning for Secure UAV Swarms under Model Poisoning Attacks
- Manchester, United Kingdom
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) swarms are becoming increasingly important for defence, emergency response, infrastructure inspection, and future autonomous systems. These swarms can use federated learning (FL), where multiple UAVs collaboratively train artificial intelligence models without sharing raw mission data. This supports privacy and efficiency, but it also creates a serious security risk: a compromised UAV may send poisoned model updates that corrupt the shared intelligence of the swarm. This PhD will develop lightweight, trust-aware methods to make FL models safer for UAV swarms. The
PhD Studentship: An adaptive AI-driven Approach to Accessibility for Visual Impairments in Games
- Manchester, United Kingdom
Artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities to make games more accessible and inclusive for everyone. This PhD project will explore how AI can support players with visual impairments by enhancing understanding, navigation, and interaction within game worlds. Potential areas include dynamic guidance systems, adaptive game content, and personalised accessibility features that respond to players’ needs in real time. The successful candidate will work with an interdisciplinary supervisory team, benefiting from expertise in adaptive systems, accessibility and human-computer interaction, a
PhD Studentship: AI-M Coast: AI-Modelling of Saltmarsh and Seagrass Vegetation for Coastal Protection
- Manchester, United Kingdom
Coastal flooding is becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, rising sea levels, and increased storm intensity. Saltmarsh restoration, widely promoted as a nature-based solution, can reduce wave energy and flood risk while also supporting biodiversity and carbon storage. However, there is limited understanding of how effectively restored saltmarshes provide coastal protection compared with natural systems. This interdisciplinary project will combine laboratory experiments, numerical modelling, and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to improve predictions of the coa
PhD Studentship: Development of Innovative and Efficient Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulator based on Physics-Informed Neural Networks
- Manchester, United Kingdom
Despite significant advances in numerical techniques and computing hardware, the high computational cost of large-scale 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling remains a major challenge. A new approach has emerged that integrates data and mathematical models through neural networks. This has led to the development of a method for solving partial differential equations (PDEs) known as physics-informed neural networks (PINNs). However, these approaches are still in their early stages of development and have yet to demonstrate their effectiveness for complex real engineering problems. Thi
PhD Studentship: Automated, Explainable Geological Interpretation of 3D Digital Twins Under Conceptual Uncertainty
- Manchester, United Kingdom
Can AI learn to reason like a human - and recognise when it isn’t sure? This PhD tackles that challenge in a high-impact setting: interpreting 3D digital models of rock formations built from drone and laser-scan data. These models underpin decisions impacting net-zero ambitions, yet interpretation remains slow and subjective. We need tools that make geological reasoning faster, more transparent, and more consistent. Current AI systems struggle because they assume a single correct answer, when geological evidence often supports multiple plausible interpretations; so, training AI to copy one exp
PhD Studentship: Adaptive Large Language Models for Low-Resource Languages: Bridging the Global Digital Language Divide
- Manchester, United Kingdom
This PhD asks a different question: instead of demanding more data, can we build language models that learn smarter from less? You will design AI architectures that adapt to the structure of a language, including its grammar, script and complexity, rather than to how much text happens to be available online. You will test these ideas across a diverse range of underserved languages, and work directly with speaker communities to ensure the technology is genuinely useful to them. You will gain deep expertise in machine learning and natural language processing, access to high-performance computing
PhD Studentship - Universal Layered Triple-Route Architecture for Heterogeneous Quantum-Classical Security
- Manchester, United Kingdom
Quantum computers are on the horizon that could break the encryption protecting our banks, hospitals, and national infrastructure. This fully funded, part-time PhD studentship offers the chance to help build the next generation of communication security, before that threat arrives. You’ll develop ULTRA, a novel “Trinity” security framework that combines three independent forms of protection: a quantum channel, post-quantum mathematics, and traditional classical security, into a single, unified encryption key. Crucially, the system is expected to work with the infrastructure organisations alrea
PhD Studentship: Recovery of the Northern Pool Frog (Pelophylax lessonae): Habitat use and Population Ecology
- Salford, United Kingdom
- Dr. Robert Jehle
The studentship is with the University of Salford and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) Trust Academic Supervisor: Dr. Robert Jehle Academic Co-Supervisor: Dr. Victoria Franks Industrial Supervisors : Dr. John Baker, Jim Foster The studentship is fully funded and includes: • A fee waiver • A stipend of £22,852 pa for three years Final date for applications: 4 th October 2026 Interviews will be held October 2026 The candidate must be in a position to register by January 2027 Description: The northern pool frog ( Pelophylax lessonae ) is one of only four frog and toad species native t
PhD Studentship - Vision Language Models for Micro-Expression Analysis
- Manchester, United Kingdom
Micro-expressions are tiny, involuntary facial movements that can occur when a person tries to hide an emotion, but are difficult to analyse because they are subtle, short-lived, and easily confused with ordinary facial movement. While many methods have been developed to recognise and localise micro-expressions, these results remain difficult to understand. The proposed models will be designed to identify where the relevant facial evidence occurs, describe what subtle change has been observed, and explain why a prediction has been made. The project will deliver new methods, benchmark protocols
Doctoral Recruitment Officer
- Bath, United Kingdom
- Doctoral College
- Tracey Brend
We are looking for someone with an excellent eye for detail to join the Doctoral College’s Recruitment and Admissions team. As part of our team, you will play a vital role in providing an efficient and effective service to those students who are considering undertaking postgraduate research at Bath, as well as supporting our academic colleagues to recruit the best doctoral students. In addition, you will be responsible for planning and managing PhD studentship competitions and funding budgets. About us The Doctoral College supports and enriches the experience of doctoral researchers and plays
PhD Studentship: Acting on Organisations: How Dramatic Pedagogies Shape Work, Culture and Performance
- Coventry, United Kingdom
- Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies
A 3.5 year, fully funded full-time PhD studentship is available for commencement January 2027. This is a collaborative project between the Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies, University of Warwick and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London. The application of theatrical training and dramatic pedagogies extends beyond performance itself. Such approaches have been employed in professional development, education, organisational change, and community engagement, reflecting a longstanding belief that drama-based learning cultivates capabilities with value across a wide range of context
PhD Studentship - Nutrition Support through Embedded Research: A Vehicle for Improving Health, Performance and Culture at GB Taekwondo
- Manchester, United Kingdom
This three-year full-time PhD project will explore nutrition in Taekwondo, a weight-category combat sport where the way athletes fuel, recover and manage weight affects both performance and long-term health. This project is a partnership between Manchester Metropolitan University’s Faculty of Health and Education and GB Taekwondo, offering the chance to shape nutrition practice in a high-performance Olympic programme ahead of Los Angeles 2028 and beyond. Working as an embedded researcher within GB Taekwondo, you will explore current nutrition practice and the views of male and female athletes
4-year PhD fellowship in the Research Programme - Deep Learning-Accelerated Crystallography Pipeline
- Durham, United Kingdom
- Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Professor Norbert Peyerimhoff
We welcome applications from candidates with a broad range of academic backgrounds and experiences for a 4-year PhD project on Mathematical and Machine Learning Aspects in Crystallography at Durham University. Project description This fellowship forms part of the Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded project “Deep Learning-Accelerated Crystallography Pipeline”, a collaboration between Durham University, the University of Copenhagen and the MAX IV synchrotron. You will work with an international team of mathematicians, crystallographers and data scientists. The project aims to transform small-molecule
PhD Studentship - Supramolecular Host Engineering for Enhanced CWA Capture and Neutralisation
- Birmingham, United Kingdom
- School of Chemistry
Applications are sought for a fully funded PhD 3-year studentship position in the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham (UoB) in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). Background. We focus on a class of materials termed molecular capsules ( doi.org/10.1039/D4CS00761A ) that have potential applications as supramolecular hosts for sensing, separations and catalysis. Computational chemistry allows the design and discovery of new molecules and theoretical understanding. This is especially important when studying the behaviour of sensitive chemicals,
PhD Studentship: West Nilotic Morphosyntax
- Guildford, United Kingdom
- Professor Matthew Baerman
PhD Studentship: West Nilotic Morphosyntax The topic is the comparative morphosyntax of the West Nilotic languages, and forms part of the European Research Council-funded project ‘NILOMORPH: The evolution of suprasegmental morphology in West Nilotic’, which sets out to explain how linguistic evolution took a highly unexpected turn in the West Nilotic languages of East Africa. Some languages within this group have evolved systems of non-concatenative morphology in which multiple grammatical categories are expressed simultaneously within a single syllable, through specifications of tone, phonati
PhD Studentship: Calibration Methodologies for Industrial/Geophysics Granular Materials
- Manchester, United Kingdom
- Mathematics
- Dr Anthony Thornton
This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded and home students are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2026. We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline. This PhD project addresses the "calibration problem" in particulate continuum models and particle simulations. Specifically, it focuses on developing robust methodologies for selecting and parameterising contact model
PhD Studentship: Monitoring Complex Ecosystems - Critical Transitions in Time Series for Soil Health and Earthquake Emergence
- Devon, United Kingdom
- ESE
- Dr George Datseris
PhD Opportunity: Critical transitions in timeseries from soil & earthquakes From the collapse of the Amazon rainforest to financial markets, from earthquakes to degraded farmland - complex systems in the natural and human world can shift suddenly and irreversibly. Understanding such critical transitions ranks among the most urgent challenges in modern ecosystem sciences and societal preparedness. This PhD project puts you at the frontier of detecting such transitions in time series, drawing from original data from soil and agriculture, as well as geohazards. The project Although difficult to d
PhD Studentship: Ammonia Solid Oxide Fuel Cell for Carbon-Free Energy Production
- Cranfield, United Kingdom
- Dr Mingming Zhu
A fully-funded PhD studentship is offered by EPSRC through Doctoral Landscape Award. The UK Government has plans to achieve Net-Zero by 2050 and hydrogen energy will play a significant role. Due to the low volumetric density of hydrogen, ammonia has emerged as a promising hydrogen carrier and zero-carbon fuel. The overall aim is to develop a novel direct ammonia fuel cell technology that can efficiently convert ammonia into carbon-free energy. In the concept of decarbonisation and renewable energy, hydrogen is considered as the ultimate carbon-free fuel and energy carrier for many applications
PhD Studentship: EPSRC: Spin-Lattice Dynamics in Advanced Magnetic Materials
- Manchester, United Kingdom
- Computer Science
How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425 This 3.5 -year PhD studentship is open to Home (UK applicants). The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26, subject to annual uplift) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. EU students with settled or pre-settled status and international student can apply but their application eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis The start date is October 2026 or January 2027. We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before th