Current research degree projects
Explore our current postgraduate research degree and PhD opportunities.
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248 research degree projects
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Engineering
Molecular ion beams: from spacecraft propulsion to ion beam etching
Ready to revolutionize microfabrication? Traditional gallium ion sources limit ion beam flexibility, but Ionic Liquid Ion Sources (ILIS) unleash a vast variety of ions for precision etching. Southampton’s cutting-edge PhD project, in partnership with Thermo Fisher, explores ILIS fundamentals—pioneering next-gen focused ion beam technology for unmatched etching control. -
Photonics and optoelectronics | Engineering | Electronics and Computer Science | Mathematical sciences | Physics and astronomy
Silicon photonic sensors for early detection of paediatric sepsis
This PhD project focuses on developing silicon photonic sensors that can detect early biomarkers of sepsis in children - quickly, accurately, and at the point of care. -
Photonics and optoelectronics
Pushing the boundaries of light: fabricating the next generation of hollow core fibres
This project focuses on developing novel Hollow core fibres designs using cutting-edge fabrication techniques. Applications range from quantum communications and computing to radiation-immune sensors for fusion reactors and particle accelerators. -
Engineering
Novel composite materials in non-ambient environmental conditions
This PhD project explores the behaviour and design of advanced composite materials for use under extreme and non-ambient environmental conditions, particularly at cryogenic temperatures relevant to hydrogen storage. The research aims to develop new composite systems with enhanced toughness, reduced cracking, and improved durability and design margin, enabling safe, efficient, and sustainable hydrogen storage solutions for the clean-energy transition. -
Photonics and optoelectronics | Engineering | Electronics and Computer Science | Mathematical sciences | Physics and astronomy
AI-driven silicon photonics circuits design
This PhD applies AI to inverse design, a method that works backwards from desired performance to generate efficient photonic circuits. You'll develop algorithms that intelligently explore vast design spaces, enabling compact, manufacturable light-based chips. -
Engineering
Sounds of healthy soil – foundations of acoustic monitoring of soil bioturbation and soil health
Soil health underpins numerous processes critical to food security. Current methods for evaluating soil health are local, lab-based, and not scalable. This project develops acoustic techniques for monitoring biological activity in soil (e.g., earthworms) that can transform management practices. What does healthy soil sound like? -
Engineering
Distributed acoustic sensing for complex environments
This project investigates the fundamental physics of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) using optical fibres. DAS is an exciting technology enabling large-scale acoustic monitoring. Although it is commercially available, numerous fundamental aspects of how it works remain to be explained. This research will lay the groundwork for physics-based analysis of various DAS configurations and evaluate the performance of array signal processing algorithms applied to DAS signals from complex environments. -
Engineering | Physics and astronomy | Electronics and Computer Science | Mathematical sciences
Investigating surface textures to optimize flow dynamics using multi-fidelity surrogate modeling
This project will develop a multi-scale surrogate modeling framework to optimize passive surface textures (like dimples) for maximum fluid drag reduction. By enabling efficient shape optimization and identifying critical flow parameters, this research seeks to resolve conflicting results and advance the theoretical understanding and practical application of cost-effective flow control in transportation. -
Engineering
Ultrasonic detection and monitoring of challenging defects in composite pipes
Pipelines are the gold standard of long-range resource transport. Their integrity is paramount to the health of the environment, while remote automated monitoring with minimal intervention is essential for sustainability. Sound is the most powerful sensing modality, which has found numerous applications in non-destructive evaluation. This project addresses small, challenging defects in composite pipes that are not detectable using currently available approaches. This research will develop practical, field-applicable local imaging and long-range monitoring solutions. -
Engineering
Characterising complex materials using ultrasound
This project develops new methods for characterising materials using ultrasound. It focuses on modern manufacturing techniques (additive manufacturing) and classical challenging configurations (thick-section welds). The results of the project will provide invaluable information for component inspections, enabling interpretation and realistic remaining life prediction.