PhD Studentship available in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Robotics and AI for Net Zero (RAINZ) - Circular Economy and Robotic Life Cycles

Supervisors: Dr Alejandro Gallego Schmid, Prof Maria Sharmina & Dr Simon Watson

This studentship is offered by the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Net Zero Centre for Doctoral Training (RAINZ CDT) which is a partnership between three of the UKs leading universities (University of Manchester, University of Glasgow and University of Oxford).

Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) is an essential enabling technology for the Net Zero transition in the UK’s energy sector. However, significant technological and cultural barriers are limiting its effectiveness. Overcoming these barriers is a key target of this CDT. The focus of the CDT’s research projects will be how RAS can be used for the inspection, maintenance, and repair of new infrastructure in renewables (wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, hydrogen) and nuclear (fission and fusion), and to support the decarbonization of existing maintenance and decommissioning of assets.

Year 1: You will spend the first year of the CDT at the University of Manchester undertaking taught MSc studies an research training.

Years 2 – 4: You will move to your host institute (University of Manchester, University of Glasgow, or University of Oxford) to undertake your PhD research.

About this Project

Year 1 MSc Course: MSc Renewable Energy and Clean Technolog

Year 2 – 4 PhD Location: University of Manchester

Research Abstract: The PhD project will focus on how robot designers and manufacturers can comply with the principles of circular economy, such as design for disassembly, use of renewable energy, reuse of materials, and increased durability of robots. The project will look at robots’ entire lifecycle, from the extraction of raw materials, to manufacturing, robot use, and end-of-life. The research can include a quantification of potential environmental impacts. Against that, the project can weigh the economic viability of making robots more environmentally sustainable.

Applicants should have a First or Upper Second-class honours degree (2:1 with 65% average), or international equivalent, in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, or equivalent scientific discipline which includes a significant mathematical and engineering content. Other subject areas may be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on their level of numerical analysis and modelling content, for example economics, environmental sciences, finance, commerce.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of RAINZ CDT and is at the heart of all of our activities. We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, neurodiversity, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, and transgender status. We also support applications from mature students.

Applications should be made through the RAINZ CDT website: www.rainz-cdt.ac.uk, where you can also find further information about the CDT.  For informal enquiries email rainz@manchester.ac.uk.

The application deadline is 31^st January 2025.

The studentship covers full tuition fees at Home student rate and a maintenance grant for 4 years, starting at the UKRI minimum of £19,237 pa which may increase with indexation each year.

International applicants are welcome, although only Home student rates will be funded. The difference between International student rates and Home student rates needs to be covered through alternative funding sources, and we encourage all international applicants to consider this when applying.

Start Date: 22^nd September 2025

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