Vacancies

PhD Student: EPSRC Supergen: Biological Fuel Cells

PhD student position in Microbial Fuel Cells

This is a fixed term post available from October 1^st., 2010 for 3 years.

This post attracts a stipend of £13,590 pa.

The Bristol Robotics Laboratory (Faculty of Environment and Technology) in conjunction with the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences are now part of the EPSRC Supergen-V consortium and are offering a PhD studentship in Microbial Fuel Cells.

The successful applicant will be positioned in BRL, working with the famous EcoBot series of robots (see below) and getting the opportunity to experience the diverse nature of the robotics field, as well as being in close collaboration and developing excellent scientific skills within the Microbiology group (Health & Life Sciences). In these cross-disciplinary environments, the successful applicant will receive excellent training in research methods and support in the development as an independent researcher.

EcoBot I

EcoBot II

EcoBot III

Please return your form to the Graduate School Office, 2P4, Faculty of Environment and Technology, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, e-mail: FET.researchdegrees@uwe.ac.uk, (tel. +44 117 32 83309).

Candidates will be invited for interview during the first week of September 2010, so please indicate your availability in the covering letter. If you have not heard from us by the end of August 2010, we thank you for your application but do not wish to pursue it on this occasion.

General information about the hosting laboratory can be found on this site. For an informal discussion about the post please contact: ioannis.ieropoulos@brl.ac.uk

UWE is an equal opportunities employer. UWE is committed to creating a dynamic and diverse workforce representative of the communities we serve. We believe in fostering a working environment where equality is promoted and diversity respected and valued. If you feel the same we'd like to hear from you.

Two PhD Studentships: Computer Vision and Robotic Manipulation of objects to enable a robot to read text printed on them

Applications are invited for TWO PhD studentships, available from 1 October 2010, with one position in the Computer Vision Group at the University of Bristol, and the other at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory at the University of West of England.

The studentships are funded by the Leverhulme Trust for a project that involves the use of computer vision and robotic manipulation of objects to enable a robot to read text printed on various objects - as a means of providing assistance to disabled, or ageing, companions. This splits into two sub-projects: the first sub-project will be focused on computer vision aspects of the task, and the second will focus on efficient manipulation of the objects. The nature of the problem domain requires a strong coupling between the two sub-projects.

The two students are expected to work independently on their individual sub-projects as well as collaborate closely to achieve the global aims of the full project.

Applicants should have a first or strong 2.1 class undergraduate degree or a relevant Masters degree or equivalent experience in a relevant Physical Sciences/Engineering discipline. They should have a willingness to work in an interdisciplinary environment. A recognised English language qualification (e.g. minimum IELTS 6.5) is required if English is not the candidate's first language. The project starts in Oct 2010 and funding is available for 3 years.

Each student will receive Home-student tuition fees and a tax free bursary of around £13500 per annum for the 3 year duration of the project. International applicants would need to pay the difference between Home and Overseas fees, approx £6000 pa.