PhD Research Studentships

The School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing at Leeds Beckett University is currently accepting applications for up to 4 funded full-time PhD Research Studentships

The School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing at Leeds Beckett University brings together a range of related sectors from built environment and construction; human and natural environments; engineering industries; and computing and IT industries in a vibrant setting, with a rapidly growing research, enterprise, and student cohort.

The School of Built Environment and Engineering is offering up to 4 full-time studentships from October 2024. The studentships cover projects related to the built environment, engineering, and computing sectors. Studentship funding lasts for the first three years of a four-year registration period. The fourth year is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ year.

We invite applications from talented people to apply for studentships on the following project areas:

Cyber Security Innovations in Simulations, Serious Games, and Edutainment

Hands-on cyber security and hacking challenges are an effective way to engage learners and unlock the “security mindset”. Constructivist approaches to teaching suggest that students learn best by “learning through doing.” One such approach is through capture the flag (CTF) security challenges, where solving technical challenges reveal flags which can be used to prove and score that they have been solved. Most CTF challenges are created as one-use static challenges. We have developed unique solutions that enable randomised and replayable hacking and defensive challenges. SecGen is a platform for generating randomised VMs containing hacking challenges; Hackerbot is a chatbot that can help students to learn about defense and monitoring; and we have developed a cloud-based lab infrastructure for conducting computer security exercises. We invite Ph.D. proposals that build on these frameworks and techniques, to develop and evaluate innovative technical solutions to cyber security simulations, serious games, and edutainment. Proposals will be technical in nature and will propose, implement, and measure the impact of new innovations.

For further information please contact Dr Cliffe Schreuders

BIM4Regs – A framework for facilitating automated building regulations compliance diagnostics in BIM Model

The advent of Building Information Modelling and its associated frameworks and standards promises a new era, towards enhanced productivity in the construction industry. Consequently, BIM has been touted as an effective way of addressing issues affecting productivity, profitability, sustainability, safety, and overall effectiveness of the construction industry (). Following its contribution to driving the Construction 2025 agenda, which is aimed at 33% lower cost and 50% faster delivery, among others (HM government, 2016), the need to extend BIM to building regulations compliance diagnostics has been envisioned by the UK government through the BIM4Regs initiative. The proposed study aims to investigate the optimal approach for facilitating automated building regulation compliance diagnostics. The study would explore state-of-the-art technologies to develop framework for automated building compliance diagnostics and decision support system. It would also involve the development of a BIM4Regs prototype, using Building Regulations Approved Document B as a case study.

For further information please contact Dr Saheed Ajayi

Application of Hyper-Spectral Imaging to Assess the Level of Aflatoxins in Pistachio Nut

The consumption of pistachios has been increasing, given their important benefit to human health. In addition to being an excellent nutritional source, they have been associated with chemical hazards, such as mycotoxins, resulting in fungal contamination and its secondary metabolism. Aflatoxins are the most common mycotoxins in pistachio and the most toxic to humans, with hepatotoxic effects. Exposure to aflatoxins is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer. In this project, a hyper-spectral image dataset of sample pistachio nuts with different known level of aflatoxin contamination is first generated. Then, an investigation into spectral band selection for aflatoxin infection detection will be conducted. Finally, the application of Artificial Intelligent for detection and classification of the infected individual nuts will be investigated.

For further information please contact Dr Akbar Sheikh Akbari

Localised urban heat island monitoring to improve regulatory overheating risk assessment of domestic buildings

Urban heat islands (UHI) have serious health implications, especially for the most vulnerable in society. In London and Manchester, Building Regulations already require developers to account for the UHI effect when evaluating domestic overheating risk. The Leeds Sustainability Institute (LSI) has previously identified that an UHI also exists in Leeds, but this is currently not considered in regulatory compliance calculations, which could expose residents in Leeds to higher risks than counterparts in London and Manchester. The overall aim of this PhD will be to evaluate the risk of domestic overheating across the Leeds city area, and to provide a robust evidence base for the Leeds UHI to be accounted for in regulatory compliance overheating assessment.

This PhD will use data from the LSI’s existing network of sensors across Leeds to quantify the UHI intensity in different parts of the city and combine these data with other historic datasets to create bespoke weather files that can be used in building performance simulation models; these can then be considered for use in future Building Regulations. It will identify the risks of overheating that different housing archetypes in Leeds may face and compare how this risk changes when localised UHI intensity is considered. It will also make design recommendations for avoiding domestic overheating risks in cities where UHI are present. The PhD will define a methodology which other cities can follow to assess the localised UHI impacts and quantify their impact of domestic overheating risk.

For further information please contact Dr Jim Parker

Your Application

You must have a good honours degree (1st Class or a 2:1) and/or a Masters’ degree in a relevant subject (completed with Distinction/Merit), and a desire to pursue a PhD. For those whose first language is not English you must also have an IELTS score of 6.5 or above. Studentships will be awarded to the strongest applications assessed on the applicant’s academic excellence, the strength of the research proposal and how the proposal fits with the research project/area identified.

The studentship lasts for 3 years and includes full Home tuition fees plus a stipend of £19,237 per year – 2024/25 rate). The studentship will only fully fund those applicants who are eligible for Home fees with relevant qualifications. Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home fee (home fee approximately £4596 at current rates) and the International tuition fee rates (international fee approximately £14,000 per annum at current rates).

How to Apply

To apply, please visit: How to apply - Leeds Beckett University

Please make sure that you complete the application form in full. Submit your application form to: researchadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk, along with:

• Your research proposal (Max 4 pages). This should show how you will address and research the project area for which you are applying. Indicatively it should include discussion of research context, research questions, research methods, and the potential significance/originality of the PhD.
• Scanned copies of your degree certificates (e.g., undergraduate or masters’ degree certificates) and transcripts.
• Scanned copies of your English language requirements.
• Scanned copies of your passport and previous UK visas if applicable.

Please state clearly that you are applying for School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing studentships and the name of the studentship project area on your application form and research proposal.

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit: How to apply - Leeds Beckett University

The closing date for applications is Friday 17^th May 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview. We aim to hold online interviews for shortlisted applicants in June 2024. We regret that we are not able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received a response within four weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

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