VOILAb PhD opportunities

CURRENTLY RECRUITING

Multiple PhD opportunities are currently available to work in VOILAb and contribute to the development of a swarm of dandelion-inspired sensing and communication robots carried and distributed by the wind for environmental monitoring, disaster response, agrisecurity, water-resource management, nowcasting, surveillance, and security. Applications are considered for the following opportutnities: 

  1. The UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Dependable and Deployable AI for Robotics (CDT-D2AIR): applications from home and international students are welcome. To apply, visit https://www.edinburgh-robotics.org/apply
  2. The EPSRC and MoD Centre for Doctoral Training in Sensing, Processing, and AI for Defence and Security (SPADS): applications from home and international students are welcome but international students requiring an ATAS (check at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-out-if-you-require-an-atas-certificate) are not eligible. To apply, visit https://spads.ac.uk/how-apply
  3. Self-funded students (e.g. with their own scholarhsip) can apply directly to the School of Engineering of the University of Edinburgh at https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/research/phd/design-microflyers-environmental-monitoring 

The position will remain open until one or more successful applicants are identified. For informal enquiries, please email Dr Jawahar Sivabharathy Samuthira Pandi, jsamuthi@ed.ac.uk. We aim to reply to all informal enquiries within 10 working days. 

Please inform Prof. Viola (i.m.viola@ed.ac.uk) once applied so that he can follow up on the application. 

Who should apply for a PhD in VOILAb

We welcome applications from outstanding and ambitious students, with the potential of becoming extraordinary scholars. We select less than 5% of the applications that we receive. The principal selection criteria is excellence. Specific expertise relevant to the project and motivation are also considered.
 
Applicants must have studied fluid mechanics in their undergraduate courses, and must demonstrate a genuine interest in this subject. Expertise in computational fluid dynamics or experimental fluid dynamics is desirable but not essential.  

Previous successful applicants have a very diverse background, including engineering, mathematics, physics, biology, etc. Our research group is very diverse for gender, race, nationality, career ambition, etc. We strongly value the diversity in our group, and thus applicants from groups tipically under-represented in academia are strongly encouraged to apply. Find here the minimum entry requirements by country.

Being fluent in both spoken and written English is essential. We accept the following English language qualifications at the minimum grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component
  • TOEFL-iBT: total 92 with at least 20 in each section
  • PTE Academic: total 61 with at least 56 in each of the Communicative Skills scores
  • CAE and CPE: total 176 with at least 169 in each paper
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Self-funded applicants

Self-funded applicants who have received funds through scholarships or other sponsors can apply for any advertised project (https://edin.ac/3L7HTnq), or can propose their own project. Self-proposed projects must align closely with the research focus of VOILAb. Applicants should apply trough this link: https://edin.ac/2v7HvCK. They should either attach their own research proposal to the application, or indicate one project between those offered by VOILAb and listed at this link: https://edin.ac/3L7HTnq