Starting a doctoral journey is a significant step for any scholar, and it is crucial to find the right project that aligns with your skills, interests, and aspirations. Fortunately, Coventry University offers many funded studentships, providing an extensive array of opportunities for prospective PhD candidates.

Whether you’re interested in the intricacies of pathogen transport in river systems or passionate about understanding the role of health technology in menopause support, there’s a project tailored to your expertise.

The university’s search listing is a gateway to discovering these enriching opportunities. Here’s an overview of some of the captivating projects available:

Pathogen Transport in River Systems

• Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates meeting entry requirements
• Duration: Full-Time –three to three and a half years fixed term
• Application Deadline: April 30, 2024
• Interview Date: To be confirmed for shortlisted candidates
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact: Dr. Matteo Rubinato

Introduction: Coventry University presents a fully funded Ph.D. studentship focusing on the numerical modeling of waterborne disease pathogen transport during flood events. This opportunity aims to explore a novel approach’s potential and limitations and apply it to analyze climate change impacts on pathogen transmission pathways.

Project Details: This project aims to advance the understanding human health risks associated with waterborne disease pathogen dispersal during floods. Effective modeling for predicting pathogen transport in river systems is crucial, as waterborne pathogens like E. coli and norovirus cause significant mortality annually. The project envisions a synoptic modeling approach to enhance preparedness against infectious disease outbreaks, anticipating, mitigating, and preventing flood-driven waterborne disease outbreaks.

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Critical Geopolitics and International Relations in South Asia

• Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates meeting entry requirements
• Duration: Full-Time – 3 to 3.5 years fixed term
• Application Deadline: April 29, 2024
• Interview Date: To be confirmed for shortlisted candidates
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact: Serena Hussain for further details

Introduction: This PhD project is part of a unique collaboration between Coventry University, UK, and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia, under the Cotutelle arrangement.

The successful applicant will spend the first year at Deakin University, a year at Coventry University, and the final 1.5 years at Deakin University. The supervision team members will be experts from both institutions.

Project Details: This project critically examines key geopolitical/international relations issues among South Asian nations. Areas of focus include gender dynamics, environmental politics, grassroots/subaltern border politics, soft diplomacy, and diaspora politics. Prospective candidates should contact supervisors A/Profs Yamini Narayanan (Deakin) and Serena Hussain (Coventry) with their topic proposals.

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Hierarchical federated learning framework for safe and secure connected and autonomous vehicles

• Eligibility: Open to UK/International (including EU) graduates meeting entry requirements
• Funding: Bursary, tuition fees, stipend
• Duration: Full-time, fixed-term, 3-3.5 years
• Application Deadline: April 29, 2024
• Interviews: Scheduled for shortlisted candidates
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact Dr. Faouzi Bouali for project details

Introduction: This PhD project is part of a unique collaboration between Coventry University, UK, and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The successful candidates will split their time between both institutions, benefitting from a diverse supervision team.

Project Details: Recent advancements in cloud-based AI/ML have revolutionized various fields. However, a centralized approach poses challenges for Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) due to limited wireless capacity, delays, scalability issues, and data privacy concerns. Federated Learning (FL) has arisen as a solution but faces hurdles like intermittent connectivity and security vulnerabilities, particularly for CAVs. This project aims to develop a Hierarchical Federated Learning framework tailored for CAVs. Introducing tiers (vehicle, edge, cloud) can enhance scalability, and context-driven tier selection optimizes learning processes. Leveraging 5G/6G networks will enhance CAV performance, safety, and cyber resilience.

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Exploring Late 19th-Century Belgian Artistic Spaces

• Eligibility: Open to UK/International (including EU) graduates meeting entry requirements.
• Duration: Full-time, fixed term between three to three and a half years.
• Application Deadline: May 27, 2024
• Interview Date: To be confirmed for shortlisted candidates.
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact Professor Juliet Simpson for further details.

Introduction: This PhD project delves into late 19th-century Belgian artistic networks, particularly focusing on (semi)-private interior and exterior spaces and their role in the creative exchange between the 1860s-1910s.

Project Details: This study explores how (semi-private spaces served as hubs for artistic creation, self-identity formation, and social interaction during the late 19th century. It aims to uncover the significance of these interconnected spaces in shaping new projections of modernity, gender identities, and cultural memory. By examining Belgian contexts, the project will investigate artists’ creation and utilization of semi-private exterior spaces, with implications extending beyond Belgium. This PhD studentship is in collaboration with KU Leuven, with an expected 12-month residency in Belgium for the successful applicant.

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Joint PhD in Protective Security & Defence

• Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates meeting entry requirements
• Duration: Full-Time – 3 to 3.5 years fixed term
• Application Deadline: April 29, 2024
• Interview Date: Will be confirmed for shortlisted candidates
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact Professor David McIlhatton for further details

Introduction: Embark on an exciting journey to earn a joint PhD through a cotutelle arrangement between Deakin University, Australia, and Coventry University, UK. This unique opportunity allows candidates to graduate with two prestigious PhDs, acknowledging participation in a jointly supervised doctoral program.

Project Details: Two fully funded Studentships are available, each with a stipend. Successful applicants will spend the first year at Deakin University, followed by a year at Coventry University, and then complete the final 1.5 years at Deakin University.

Project Topics:

• Securing Political and Governmental Actors from Targeted Cyber Attacks
• Non-state Actors in Cyber Policing: Assessing the Role of Private Investigators
• A Framework for Data Privacy Protection in Immersive Technologies
• Enhancing Protective Security in E-Safety: Safeguarding Digital Users Online
• Enhancing Risk Management and Decision-Making through Trust-Based Collaborative Systems
• Zero Trust-based Continuous Authentication for Protective Security
• Enhancing Zero Trust Control Plane Resilience to Cyberattacks
• Improving Robustness of Deep Learning Models for Tabular Datasets
• Privacy-Preserving Federated Learning for Intrusion Detection in IoT Networks

Proposals addressing these topics are welcome, with flexibility in methodological approaches. Informal discussions with the leads at Deakin and Coventry during proposal development are strongly encouraged.

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Using Extended Reality (XR) to Improve Team Performance

• Eligibility: Open to UK and international graduates meeting entry requirements.
• Duration: Full-time, fixed term of three to three and a half years.
• Application Deadline: May 27, 2024
• Interview Date: To be confirmed for shortlisted candidates.
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact: Dr. Agnieszka Lewko

Overview: Pulmonary rehabilitation offers significant benefits for COPD patients, yet its uptake remains low, with high dropout rates. Many find existing exercise regimes overly demanding, exacerbating breathlessness and fatigue.

Project Aim: This PhD project explores an alternative exercise paradigm, Regional Specific Training Stimulus (RSTS), tailored for older adults with COPD. Integrating low-mass, high-repetition training into current programs aims to assess proof of concept and feasibility, potentially revolutionizing pulmonary rehabilitation.

Methodology: Utilizing quantitative and qualitative methods, this research investigates the efficacy and viability of RSTS. It offers insights into program design and exercise prescription for COPD patients.

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Wearable Intervention for Postnatal Mental Health

• Eligibility: Open to UK/International (including EU) graduates meeting entry requirements.
• Funding: Bursary plus tuition fees (UK/International (including EU at international rates from September 24).
• Duration: Full-Time –three to three and a half years fixed term.
• Application Deadline: May 27, 2024
• Interview Dates: To be confirmed for shortlisted candidates.
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact: For further details about the project, please get in touch with Dr. Ksenija Maravic da Silva

Introduction: The early postnatal period often challenges mental and physical well-being, influenced by various factors, including hormonal changes, environmental demands, and sleep disruptions. Existing treatments face hurdles such as stigma and accessibility. Thus, there’s a pressing need for non-pharmacological and cost-effective interventions.

Project Details: Building upon the recognition of wearables’ potential in improving mental health, this research aims to assess their suitability specifically for the postnatal period. It will delve into the impact of circadian rhythms and prolactin levels on mental health during this crucial phase. Through systematic review and empirical exploration, the study seeks to pioneer new avenues for supporting postnatal mental health care.

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Feedback and Attainment in Higher Education

• Eligibility: Open to UK/International (including EU) graduates meeting entry requirements.
• Duration: Full-time, fixed term of 3-3.5 years.
• Application Deadline: April 29, 2024
• Interview Date: To be confirmed for shortlisted candidates.
• Start Date: September 2024

Introduction: Join a unique cotutelle arrangement between Coventry University, UK, and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. Graduate with dual PhDs, recognizing joint supervision across both institutions.

Project Details: Explore the impact of feedback processes on student learning and attainment in higher education. While feedback is crucial, it tends to favor high-performing students. This project aims to understand how different student characteristics influence feedback engagement and performance. We strive to enhance feedback systems and improve student outcomes by focusing on student perspectives. Applicants can propose specific research focuses that are aligned with project goals. For more information, contact Siân Alsop.

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Assessing Agricultural Resilience in the Caribbean Post-Hurricane

• Eligibility: Open to UK/International (including EU) graduates meeting entry requirements
• Duration: Full-time, fixed term of 3-3.5 years
• Application Deadline: May 27, 2024
• Interview Date: To be confirmed for shortlisted candidates
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact: Dr. Charley Hill-Butler, Assistant Professor in Geography and Natural Hazards

Overview: Hurricanes significantly damage Caribbean agriculture, impacting productivity and vegetation. This project aims to measure the resilience of agricultural systems in the region following hurricanes from 2010-2020, addressing critical knowledge gaps.

Project Details: By using remote sensing and satellite imagery, this research will analyze the impact of hurricanes on Caribbean agriculture, developing a standardized methodology to evaluate short-term damage and long-term recovery. By identifying resilient farming systems, the study aims to drive innovations in disaster resilience.

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Remote Parking Strategies in Connected and Automated Vehicles

• Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates with required entry requirements
• Duration: Full-Time – Four years fixed term
• Application Deadline: April 25, 2024
• Interview Date: To be confirmed for shortlisted candidates
• Start Date: September 2024

Introduction: This collaborative four-year studentship involves spending two years at Coventry University (UK) and two years at ASTAR Research Institute (Singapore). The typical schedule includes the first and fourth years at Coventry and the second and third years at ASTAR Research Institute.

Project Details: Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) are revolutionizing parking norms in the dynamic realm of urban transportation. CAVs operate sans human drivers, offering innovative parking solutions that dispatch vehicles to farther, potentially less congested areas, hinting at reduced strain on central urban parking. However, this transformation poses challenges regarding user convenience and network traffic management.

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Integrated Sensing & Communications for Vehicular Networks

• Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates with the required qualifications
• Duration: Full-Time – 4 years
• Deadline: April 25, 2024
• Interview: Shortlisted candidates will receive notification
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact Dr. Faouzi Bouali for more information.

Introduction: Join a collaborative four-year program split between Coventry University (UK) and A*STAR Research Institute (Singapore). Spend two years at each location, with a unique focus on integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) technology.

Project Overview: Explore the revolutionary potential of ISAC technology in shaping the future of wireless networks, particularly in the context of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). This research aims to tackle the challenges CAVs face with existing ISAC solutions, including high mobility and safety requirements.

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Investigating Tech Uptake in Underserved Communities

• Eligibility: Open to UK and international graduates who meet entry requirements.
• Duration: Full-Time, 3-3.5 years fixed term.
• Application Deadline: May 27, 2024.
• Interview Date: To be confirmed for shortlisted candidates.
• Start Date: September 2024.
• Contact Louise Moody for more information.

Introduction: 1 in 6 people in the UK depend on rehabilitative, assistive, or restorative technology for independent living. Co-designed technologies with input from users and caregivers can significantly enhance independence, confidence, and well-being.

Project Details: This project aims to investigate the variability in acceptance and adoption of rehabilitation, assistive, and restorative technologies. It will identify individual barriers to tech usage and pinpoint underutilized patient groups. Through stakeholder collaboration, the research will develop an action plan and technology requirements to enhance tech uptake in underserved communities.

It is funded by the NIHR Devices for Dignity HRC, specializing in innovative health tech for long-term conditions.

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Innovative Brain Trauma Injury Model for Future Vehicle Safety

• Eligibility: Open to UK/International (including EU) graduates meeting entry requirements
• Duration: Full-Time – Three to Three and a Half Years Fixed Term
• Deadline: April 25, 2024
• Interview Date: To be confirmed for shortlisted candidates
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact Christophe Bastien for further details

Introduction: This collaborative four-year studentship entails two years at Coventry University (UK) and two years at A*STAR Research Institute (Singapore), alternating between the two institutions.

Project Overview: The Transport Safety and Simulation (TSS) research group, established in 2022, aims to revolutionize transportation safety and reshape global mobility.

Focus Areas:

• Modeling and assessing human survival probabilities in transport collisions
• Studying safety responses in future micro-mobility
• Investigating design and legislative changes for safer transport
• Programming routines to analyze soft tissue injuries
• Researching ways to disseminate findings globally to support ‘Vision Zero’

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Enhancing Safety in Public Transport for Women

• Eligibility: Open to UK/EU/International graduates meeting entry requirements
• Funding: Bursary + Tuition fees (UK/EU/International)
• Duration: Full-time, up to four years
• Application Deadline: May 27, 2024
• Interview Dates: To be confirmed for shortlisted candidates
• Start Date: September 2024
• For inquiries, contact Dr. Arun Ulahannan

Introduction:

Addressing women’s safety concerns in UK public transport is imperative. Join us in this impactful PhD opportunity to initiate positive change in this area.

Project Overview:

This 3.5-year doctorate, supported by the West Midlands Combined Authority, focuses on designing safer, more inclusive public transport for women. It benefits from state-of-the-art facilities at the National Transport Design Centre and the Centre for Healthcare and Communities. We collaborate with leading researchers and industrial designers to implement and test real-world solutions. Additionally, we engage with gender-design experts from the UK and Europe through our extensive supervisory network.

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Nanostructured Electrohysterography System Development

• Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates
• Duration: Full-Time – 3 to 3.5 years fixed term
• Deadline: April 25, 2024
• Interviews: Scheduled for shortlisted candidates
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact: Prof. Dingchang Zheng, Coventry University

Introduction: This collaborative four-year studentship involves two years at Coventry University (UK) and two years at A*STAR Research Institute (Singapore). The focus is detecting uterine contractions (UC), which are crucial for pregnancy maintenance and childbirth. Abnormal UCs pose serious health risks. Current UC detection methods, like tocodynamometers, have limitations. Electrohysterography (EHG) offers a non-invasive alternative but lacks comprehensive coverage and signal quality.

Project Details: This interdisciplinary project aims to develop a wearable system with nanostructured biocompatible electrodes for reliable multi-channel EHG signal recording. Objectives include developing stretchable electrodes, a multi-channel recording system, and evaluating signal accuracy and sensitivity.

We seek a motivated candidate interested in healthcare technology innovation, wearable sensor design, and electrophysiology. Experience in nanomaterials, wearable sensor fabrication, and chemical laboratory operations is desirable. Deadline-oriented work and collaboration with diverse teams are essential.

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Advancing Uterine Contraction Detection: Nano Electrohysterography System Development

• Eligibility: Open to UK/International (including EU) graduates who meet entry requirements.
• Duration: Full-time, fixed term of 3 to 3.5 years.
• Deadline: April 25, 2024
• Interviews: Scheduled for shortlisted candidates.
• Start Date: September 2024
• Contact: Professor Dingchang Zheng, Research Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, Coventry University.

Introduction: This collaborative four-year studentship involves two years at Coventry University (UK) and two years at ASTAR Research Institute (Singapore). The candidate spends the first and fourth years at Coventry and the second and third years at ASTAR.

Project Summary: Focusing on uterine contraction (UC) detection, this project aims to develop a wearable system with nanostructured biocompatible electrodes for high-quality multi-channel electrohysterography (EHG) signal recording.

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