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Current research degree projects

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Explore our current postgraduate research degree and PhD opportunities.

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40 research degree projects

Electronics and computer science | Engineering

Smart materials for wearable electronics with next-gen manufacturing

This project offers a rare opportunity to work with the UK’s only roll-to-roll sputtering system, a brand new and bespoke platform designed specifically for next-generation material discovery. You’ll explore innovative thin-film materials for flexible electronics, developing scalable recipes that bridge cutting-edge research with real-world commercial compatibility through high-throughput, fabric-friendly processes.

Funding: Competition funded

Closing date: 1 January 2027
Engineering

Development of high-performance miniaturised ultrasonic devices for precision minimally invasive surgery

This project, in the field of ultrasonic surgery, focuses on the development of cutting-edge miniature ultrasonic devices targeted for bone surgery. It seeks to advance the current state-of-art design by introducing new configurations and incorporating novel structures in miniaturised devices to enhance precision and improve clinical outcome.

Funding: Fully funded (UK and international)

Closing date: 30 June 2026
Biological sciences

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion Associated with Marine Fouling

Microbiologically-influenced corrosion and biofouling in hostile marine and offshore energy sectors costs billions annually. This project advances in-situ spatial biofilm analyses to map microbe–surface interactions and develops data-driven genome-scale metabolic models. Combining genomic, electrochemical, and imaging techniques, it will predict and control biofilm-mediated structural corrosion through novel natural mitigation strategies.

Funding: Fully funded (UK only)

Closing date: 28 November 2025
Electronics and computer science

Predicting chaotic behaviours for financial risk analysis

The analysis of financial risk relies on chaotic systems, which are difficult to predict due to their sensitivity and complexity. In this project, you will build on existing machine learning research to create effective prediction approaches, and work alongside experts in chaos modelling, machine learning, and finance to achieve this.

Funding: Competition funded

Closing date: 1 December 2025
Electronics and computer science

Application mapping on parallel compute systems

Massively parallel compute architectures, like Graphics Processing Units (GPU) and Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), are becoming an integral part of the high-performance computing ecosystem. This project is about effective mapping of large parallel problems onto these architectures, improving the optimised performance of numerical simulations and artificial intelligence. You will access leading supercomputer resources to achieve this.

Funding: Competition funded

Closing date: 1 December 2025
Engineering

Development, optimisation, and validation of µCT-based 3D X-ray histology for advanced clinical and biomedical applications

This project aims to develop cutting-edge 3D X-ray imaging methods to improve histopathology and tissue diagnostics. It will advance non-destructive µCT -based imaging of histological specimens to guide sampling, reduce diagnostic error, and support spatial -omics. Based at the interface of engineering and medicine, this project combines imaging science, pathology, and translational biomedical research.

Funding: Fully funded (UK and international)

Closing date: 30 November 2025
Psychology

Predicting Treatment Response in ADHD Based On Individual Clinical, Cognitive and Physiological Characteristics

This PhD project builds on a newly funded NIHR research aiming at predicting response to methylphenidate (the most common medication for ADHD), based on pre-treatment clinical, cognitive, and physiological characteristics. Ultimately, this will help tailor treatment options and thus improve patients’ outcomes.

Funding: Fully funded (UK only)

Closing date: 15 October 2025
Engineering

Hybrid turbulence modelling: bridging physics and data

This project pioneers deep learning for turbulence modeling, focusing on wall-bounded flows. By combining convolutional neural networks (CNNs), generative adversarial networks (GANs), and physics-informed methods, it aims to develop hybrid predictive models that overcome current limitations. The research supports scalable, accurate simulations of multi-scale phenomena, advancing computational design across energy, transport, and biomedical applications.

Funding: Competition funded

Closing date: 31 March 2026
Engineering

System identification of nonlinear space structures via physics-informed machine learning

Modern lightweight space structures face harsh environments and often exhibit nonlinear dynamics due to contacts, friction, and geometric nonlinearities. This project combines numerical, analytical, and experimental methods to develop physics-informed machine learning tools for efficient nonlinear system identification, enabling accurate modelling and validation of the next-generation space technologies.

Funding: Fully funded (UK and international)

Closing date: 31 August 2026
Engineering

Advanced active thermography inspection for aerospace composites

The Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at the University of Southampton is offering PhD scholarships focused on using active thermography to inspect aerospace composites. The project aims to improve how defects are detected and analysed in aircraft materials, helping ensure safer and more efficient maintenance.

Funding: Fully funded (UK only)

Closing date: 31 October 2025