We offer a range of PhDs funded by different sources, such as research councils, industries or charities.
To apply for a funded PhD please read the advertised project information carefully as requirements will vary between funders. The project information will include details of funding eligibility, application deadline dates and links to application forms. Only applicants who have a relevant background and meet the funding criteria can be considered.
Supervisors: Dr Ziwei Wang (Engineering), Dr Elmira Yadollahi (SCC), Professor James Taylor (Engineering) and Professor Plamen Angelov (SCC)
By 2028, seven advanced gas-cooled reactors in the UK are scheduled to enter decommissioning. Furthermore, 11 Magnox nuclear reactors are currently at various stages of decommissioning. In response, robotic remote handling has been highlighted as a key activity by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).
To date, most robotic teleoperation has been single-operator-single-robot (SOSR) using touch-based physical interfaces (e.g., Geomagic Touch). Earlier projects have proposed SOSR systems that require continuous use of touch-based hand exoskeleton or Virtual Reality devices, often leading to tremors and fatigue due to high attention demands. Although the EPSRC RAIN Hub and National Centre for Nuclear Robotics tested the deployment of two physical interfaces, this inherently limits the degrees of freedom (DoFs) for remote handling and requires higher skills in coordinated manipulation.
In contrast, hand gestures and gaze information inherently convey human intent without requiring physical contact, greatly expanding the DoFs for command inputs beyond traditional bimanual teleoperation. This enhancement can greatly augment the teleoperation flexibility in a cost-effective and training-less manner.
META4ND aims to revolutionise the robotic teleoperation paradigm for decommissioning, potentially lifting nuclear robotics to an unprecedented degree of intuitiveness, versatility and flexibility. We've designed three exciting work packages (WPs) for the successful candidate to investigate. The first two aim to improve the sensorimotor capabilities, as shown in Figure A. WP1 will develop a novel human-machine interface that facilitates intuitive, remote control of multiple robots using real-time dynamic hand gestures. This platform will visually represent the kinematic mapping between hand gestures and robotic motion. WP2 will develop an innovative gaze-based control system that facilitates additional human input extracted from eye activities beyond hand movements, adapting swiftly to tasks requiring rapid commands. WP3 focuses on developing stabilised safe control protocols for remote handling to meet the rich interaction demands (see Figure B). This will enhance the targeted decommissioning scenarios by integrating the virtual interactive interface developed in WP1-2, along with multimodal sensory feedback and a distributed multi-agent controller.
With META4ND, we’re aiming to take nuclear robotics to the next level. Are you ready to be part of this revolution?
General eligibility criteria: Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course.
Project specific criteria: The ideal candidate should have strong background in robotics, control theory and human-robot interaction, rich experiences in coding such as MATLAB and Python; excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to prepare presentations, reports, and journal papers to the highest levels of quality; excellent interpersonal skill to work effectively in a team consisting of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Non-UK students are welcomed to apply. Overseas applicants should submit IELTS results (minimum 6.5) if applicable.
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate; £19,237 in 2024/25. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Dr Ziwei Wang for more information.
Start Date: As soon as possible
Deadline for application: Open (it is recommended you apply as soon as possible)
Interview: Rolling
If you’re interested in protecting AI from rapidly emerging cyber threats and securing a technology that will define the coming decades, this PhD studentship is for you.
We are seeking candidates to join our AI security group at Lancaster University, and become part of this rapidly growing research field.
The adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and prominent technologies such as Generative AI, LLMs, and Agentic AI systems is rapidly accelerating across both research and industry.
While there is considerable research activity on the application of AI for security, there has been less attention towards the security of AI itself. AI security focuses on addressing cyber security risks against the AI systems against a wide plethora of cyber attacks, spanning prompt injection, data leakage, jailbreaking, bypassing guardrails, model backdoors, and more. The emergence of such AI risks has drawn the attention of every nation and major business, however existing cyber security tools and methods are ineffective within AI systems due to the intrinsically random, complex, and opaque nature of neural networks. To date, how to secure today’s and tomorrow’s AI models and systems remains unsolved.
This project would provide you the skill and training necessary to become a researcher specializing in AI security – an area that is increasingly sought after in academia and industry.
Topics of interest you could pursue include:
We are among the few labs globally specializing in AI security. You will be part of a new cohort of PhD students joining an established team of scientists and engineers. Founded in 2016, the research lab led by Professor Peter Garraghan is internationally renowned in AI systems and security, publishing over 70 research papers, securing over £14M in external grant funding, the formation of Mindgard, and all research students to date securing positions in academia or industry R&D labs upon graduation.
These positions are available now, thus candidates are strongly recommended to apply as early as possible.
For informal enquiries about these positions, please contact and share your CV with Professor Peter Garraghan. To apply, please visit our school PhD opportunities page, which includes guidance on submission, and a link to the submission system.
Supervisors: Dr Emma Wilson (SCC), Professor James Taylor (Engineering), and Professor Neil Reeves (Lancaster Medical School)
This PhD offers an exciting new opportunity to explore the role of Control Systems Engineering in emerging interdisciplinary fields including medical treatment optimisation for diabetes management, human-in-the-loop heart rate regulation, and event based robotic control. Unlike classical engineering applications, these applications face greater stochastic uncertainty, weaker repeatability, and data challenges—such as missing, irregular, or observational data.
The research will focus on event-based control strategies and techniques for handling missing data, especially in situations where strict timing constraints cannot be guaranteed. The project will combine theory, simulations, and experimental work, concentrating on three key application areas: Diabetes treatment optimization, human-in-the-loop heart rate control, and event-based robotic control.
This project will allow you to apply and advance control theory in real-world interdisciplinary settings, working alongside an interdisciplinary team of supervisors. You'll gain valuable skills in dynamic system analysis, control theory, robotics, real-time experimental implementation, diabetes control, and controlling physiological parameters.
General eligibility criteria: Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course.
Project specific criteria: The ideal candidate will have an interest in Control Systems Engineering, particularly its application to emerging interdisciplinary fields. The ideal candidate should possess strong numerical skills, with a background in Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related area.
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate; £19,237 in 2024/25. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Dr. Emma Wilson for more information.
Supervisors: Dr Zhongming Zhang (Engineering), Dr Wenjuan Yu (SCC), and Dr Yuqian Wan (Management Science)
Are you ready to apply cutting-edge digital technology to solve real-world challenges in nuclear waste management? This project offers an exciting opportunity to develop a blockchain-based system for tracking and transporting radioactive waste. With the increasing complexity of decommissioning nuclear facilities, ensuring the safe, transparent, and efficient transport of radioactive materials is more critical than ever.
You’ll work at the intersection of blockchain innovation, logistics optimisation, and environmental sustainability. The system you help design will provide secure, tamper-proof tracking and even monitor carbon emissions during transport, contributing to the UK’s net-zero goals.
Guided by a multidisciplinary supervision team, you’ll gain hands-on experience with blockchain development, smart contract implementation, and real-world testing in simulated environments. If you’re passionate about emerging technologies and want to make a meaningful impact in nuclear safety and environmental sustainability, this project is the perfect way to build your expertise while tackling global challenges.
General eligibility criteria: Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course.
Project specific criteria: The ideal candidate will have an interest in emerging technologies, particularly blockchain systems, and their real-world applications in critical infrastructure. A background or strong interest in nuclear engineering, computer science, or logistics management is highly desirable. Candidates should be curious about interdisciplinary research, eager to explore sustainability solutions, and motivated to address practical challenges in nuclear waste transport and carbon footprint reduction. Strong problem-solving skills, a willingness to learn, and the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team are essential. Familiarity with programming, database management, or supply chain processes would be advantageous but not required, as training and guidance will be provided.
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate; £19,237 in 2024/25. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Dr Zhongming Zhang for more information.
Ecemis, Irem Nur, et al. "Exploring Blockchain for Nuclear Material Tracking: A Scoping Review and Innovative Model Proposal." Energies 17.12 (2024): 3028.
Yessenbayev, Olzhas, et al. "Combining blockchain and IoT for safe and transparent nuclear waste management: A prototype implementation." Journal of Industrial Information Integration 39 (2024): 100596.
To ensure the economic viability of new nuclear designs, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs), new operating concepts are being considered, including remote operations and fleet management. To support these operating concepts, the adoption of novel digital technologies, which are new to the nuclear sector, is deemed essential. This includes a fundamental shift in the application and types of communications technologies that are used, including heterogeneous telecommunications systems and wireless technology.
This PhD project will investigate and provide essential insights into the secure and resilient use of these communication systems for new nuclear designs. This will include identifying requirements for novel operating concepts with different criticalities, developing attack scenarios, and evaluating the robustness of communication technologies to attack. Furthermore, the project will examine the suitability of emerging network management approaches, which aim to minimise operational overheads, to realise important communication security and resilience requirements for new nuclear designs. The outcomes from this project are essential to the success of enabling new operating concepts and fleet management approaches.
This project is offered through the SATURN CDT (Skills And Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear Centre for Doctoral Training) and sponsored by UKNNL. It is expected that this PhD project will contribute to a new International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) project that is investigating the computer security of SMRs.
For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Paul Smith.
Candidates interested in applying should first send an email expressing interest to saturn@manchester.ac.uk as soon as possible and by the closing date: 31st May 2025.
Supported by UKRI/EPSRC, Lancaster University and UKNNL through the SATURN CDT (Skills And Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear Centre for Doctoral Training), this studentship is available to start from 1st October 2025. For UK applicants the studentship is fully funded for 4 years, covering fees and a maintenance grant (£20,780) (all tax free).
You will need to put in an application to the University's online application system. Please follow the University's guidance regarding the required documentation.
Please make sure to include a CV (mandatory, maximum of two pages) including your previous degrees and graduation grades, as well as any relevant skills. Where it applies, also include awards of excellence, publications, and links to code releases, such as through GitHub.
Please follow all of the requirements. Not adhering to these requirements may at best delay the processing of your application, and at worst might result in immediate rejection. The preferred format for all supporting documents is PDF.
Please note that even if you are applying for a funded PhD position, you will need to develop a proposal.
At the top of the first page of the Research Proposal, please include the following information:
A personal statement is mandatory and should be a maximum of one page. The document should explain your motivation to work on your chosen project and a little about your background.
Studying for a research degree is a highly rewarding and challenging process. You'll work to become a leading expert in your topic area with regular contact and close individual supervision with your supervisor.
If you have your own research idea, we can help you to develop it. To begin this process you will need to find a PhD Supervisor from one of our research groups, whose research interests align with your own.
You can also apply for a PhD from one of the Doctoral Training Centres and Partnerships that work with the School of Computing and Communications. Details of each of the Training Centres are provided here.
