Current research degree projects
Explore our current postgraduate research degree and PhD opportunities.
450 research degree projects
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Electronics and computer science | Engineering
Innovating Power Distribution Cables for the Next-Generation Electrified Aircraft
As a research project within the Doctoral Centre for Advanced Electrical Power Engineering this thesis will investigate the design of high-power density cables for the next-generation electrified aircraft. -
Electronics and computer science | Mathematical sciences
Interpretable Models: Bringing Transparency to Deep Learning Decision-Making
To trust Deep Learning models in sensitive applications such as autonomous vehicles or healthcare, we need to better understand which information they rely on when making decisions. In this project we set out to create novel tools to solve this crucial step towards AI Safety. -
Electronics and computer science
Electronic fabrics for wearable energy storage using advanced materials
This PhD project aims to develop flexible fabric batteries using advanced vapour-based processes and next-generation materials, for powering wearable technology. This PhD combines material science, electronics, cleanroom fabrication and fashion, on a creative fabric plaform. -
Electronics and computer science | Photonics and optoelectronics
Development of Metasurfaces with Extreme Light Manipulation Capabilities for Intelligent Sensing
This PhD project aims to develop optical metasurfaces with extreme light manipulation capabilities by employing deep learning-based design methodologies alongside advanced nanofabrication techniques pioneered by our teams at Southampton. These cutting-edge devices will be applied to intelligent sensing applications in complex environments, including those in biomedical fields and consumer electronics. -
Electronics and computer science | Engineering
Renewable integration in power systems: challenges in modelling, estimation and control
This research project is within the Doctoral Centre for Advanced Electrical Power Engineering and will investigate the impact of stochastic and intermittent dynamics of renewable sources of wind/solar energy on power system performance, and how these dynamics can be better modelled, monitored and controlled to ensure power system stability. -
Electronics and computer science
High Performance Data-Driven Learning Control
This PhD project aims to advance iterative learning control (ILC) by eliminating the dependency on analytical models, which are often costly or impractical to obtain. By leveraging data-driven control and optimization methods, this research will develop novel ILC algorithms that achieve high convergence performance directly from data. -
Electronics and computer science
Flexible Iterative Learning Control: Enabling Trial-Variant Learning for Real-World Applications
This PhD project aims to advance iterative learning control (ILC) by overcoming the limitation of requiring identical references in each trial, a constraint that can be impractical for many real-world applications. By combining optimization, machine learning, and biological insights, this research will develop ILC algorithms that learn faster and adjust to trial-varying tasks. -
Electronics and computer science
Malicious energy draining in deep learning: novel attacks, defences, and AI governance
This project addresses malicious energy draining attacks (which significantly increase power consumption of deep learning algorithms) and contributes to energy-efficient artificial Intelligence (AI). You will have opportunities for collaboration in academia and industry, including Cambridge, Microsoft, Nvidia, ARM, and Google DeepMind. -
Electronics and computer science | Biological sciences
Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy early detection by using image analysis of MRI susceptibility weighted imaging
Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) affects babies' brains during the childbirth due to shortages of oxygen. Using computer vision and machine learning techniques, HIE disease is diagnosed much earlier than two years which is the current normal practice in hospitals. As a result of HIE early detection, then early interventions can be applied to improve the babies health. -
Electronics and computer science | Mathematical sciences | Art, design, media and fashion | Modern languages and linguistics
The evolution of written symbolic communication: the autonomous development of visual symbolic systems in artificial agents
This PhD project explores how artificial agents can autonomously develop symbolic communication systems, resembling human alphabets or logograms, purely through interaction. Building on previous studies in sketch-based communication, the project investigates how agents might evolve compact, meaningful symbols, potentially mirroring early human writing systems, that enable efficient exchange of information.