PhD Studentship: Integrated Fabrication and Sensing for Soft Robotics

Soft robotics represents a transformative approach to creating robots that are inherently safer and more adaptive to real-world environments. Unlike traditional rigid robots, soft robots can deform, stretch, and interact with humans or delicate objects in a more natural and flexible manner. As these robots become increasingly vital in fields ranging from healthcare to industrial automation, one of the key challenges is developing advanced sensing technologies that seamlessly integrate with soft, flexible materials to provide real-time feedback for precise control and decision-making.

This PhD project aims to address this challenge by developing integrated fabrication techniques that embed sensing technologies directly into soft robotic structures. By combining expertise in flexible electronics, advanced materials, and 3D-printing-based fabrication methods, this project will enable the creation of multifunctional soft robotic systems with enhanced sensing capabilities. These systems will be capable of detecting touch, pressure, deformation and other physical parameters crucial for dynamic interaction with their environments.

This project will be carried out at the SMART Group within the Institute for Imaging, Data and Communications (IDCOM) and closely collaborate with the leading robotics researchers from the Soft Systems Group. This research provides an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of materials science, robotics, electronics and machine learning. The ideal candidate will have a background in electronics/mechanical engineering, materials science, robotics, or a related field, with a strong interest in soft robotics and sensing technologies. By joining this project, you will contribute to the rapidly growing field of soft robotics and help develop systems that could reshape healthcare, manufacturing, and other industries.

Due to a multidisciplinary nature of this project, it will be supervised by an academic team that have expertise in different engineering areas. The supervision team will consist of:

Principal supervisor:

Dr Yunjie Yang (Imaging, Data and Communications), https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/mr-yunjie-yang

Assistan supervisors:

Professor Adam Stokes (Integrated Micro and Nano Systems): https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/professor-adam-stokes;

Dr Francesco Giorgio-Serchi (Integrated Micro and Nano Systems): https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/dr-francesco-giorgio-serchi

Dr Michael Chen (Bioengineering) https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/dr-michael-xianfeng-chen

Please also note that this advert will close as soon as a suitable candidate is found. Successful candidate will be expected to start in September 2025.