PhD Studentship in Robotics, Automation & Smart Machines for Circular Manufacturing

The University has just secured seven years funding to establish a £35m (government and industry) research hub called the EPSRC Manufacturing Research Hub in Robotics, Automation & Smart Machine Enabled Sustainable Circular Manufacturing & Materials (RESCu-M2). The vision of this hub is to create a new manufacturing ecosystem for circular resource use of high value products through advances in robotics, AI and intelligent automation.

This PhD studentship will contribute to this multi partner project and this position will undertake a research project in one of the following research areas: Collaborative Dis(Re)assembly; Hybrid Re-manufacturing; Autonomous Material Separation and Recovery. The research projects will aim use robotics and AI to develop new systems and techniques to automate the Re-use, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture and Recycling of high value products. The project specifically targets products from the energy, medical and electric drives industries and also larger structures such as aircraft. There is some scope to modify the specific focus of the project to meet the applicants individual research interests.

The successful applicant should have a first degree classified at 2:1 or 1st (or equivalent) in an engineering subject. An MSc in robotics or a closely related subject would be desirable but is not essential.

If you are interested in this position, please email Dr. Steve Davis (s.davis.2@bham.ac.uk) including a CV. After the deadline suitable candidates will be invited to an interview. Please do not apply through the University’s admissions website until you have been offered the position.

Candidates must be available to start their studies before the end of April 2025.

Funding notes:

This funded PhD position is open to UK students and international students:

UK fee payers, will receive funding which will cover all tuition fees and also provide a stipend to cover living costs during the student’s studies.

International students will have their fees reduced to a total of just £8000 and there will be no stiped, meaning students will need to cover their own living costs during their studies. International will need to confirm that they have funds available to cover these remaining costs.

Advert information