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PhD topics for research students

Find below a list of currently available self-funded PhD topics.

We encourage all students to contact the supervisor or the alternative contact person for more information and an informal chat to discuss the process of applying and preparing your research statement. For more information on how to apply click here.

Description
Supervisor
Funding
Design for early detection of symptoms of anxiety and depression in university students
Anxiety, depression, and psychological distress can have a severe impact on university student quality of life and academic performance, and recent studies have highlighted the role that the COVID-19 ...
Self Funded
3D printing of scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
This project aims to develop multifunctional novel bioactive tissue scaffolds using 3D printing, biomaterials science and controlled drug delivery systems to enhance tissue regeneration. Tissue scaffo...
Self Funded
Development of an Optical Shape Sensing Method Using Optoelectronic Sensors for Soft Flexible Robotic Manipulators in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Over the last two decades, many soft continuum manipulators have been developed by many academic institutions and industries for MIS (minimally invasive surgery), endoscopy, and colonoscopy because th...
Self Funded
Additive manufacturing and sustainability
The Additive Manufacturing and 4D Printing Research group conducts research on novel use of materials, design guidelines and the societal impact of using 3D Printing. This is a self-funded topic and t...
Self Funded
System design to tackle plastic pollution in the plastic-packaging value chain
The PhD project will be linked to the UKRI funded project called PISCES: 'A systems analysis approach to reduce plastic waste in Indonesian societies'. In particular, it will support the 'Design' Work...
Self Funded
Circular design tools for the metal sector
The PhD project will be linked to the UKRI Circular Metal Research Centre. In particular it will support the design stream of the programme. The PhD researcher will work within an interdisciplinary te...
Self Funded
Development of Design Support Systems and Tools for Distributed Manufacturing
With the ongoing efforts in supply chain resilience, manufacturers are slowly beginning to shift to de-risking their manufacturing strategy by onshoring and re-establishing some of their operations in...
Self Funded
Development of resilient hospitals through enhanced built environment design and research
Approximately one-fifth of the confirmed COVID-19 cases and the majority of the infected frontline healthcare workers were associated with healthcare-acquired infections during the first wave of the C...
Self Funded
Design, development, and optimisation of a six-legged robot for hybrid walking and manipulation in challenging environments
This project aims to develop a novel six-legged walking robot with features of high stability, mobility, manipulation, and precise-machining capabilities via optimised design of the leg mechanism and ...
Self Funded
Reliability Analysis of Adhesively Bonded Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites
The Brunel Composites Centre (BCC) conducts research in phenomena that take place at the interface of composites with other types of materials. Current research projects cover composites processing, c...
Self Funded