Primary funder name: Royal Academy of Engineering

Closing date: 19 Apr 21

Full text:  The Royal Academy of Engineering, in collaboration with the Government Office for Science, invites applications for the UK intelligence community postdoctoral research fellowships. These support the promotion of unclassified basic research in areas of interest to the intelligence, security and defence community. The research will be conducted by postdoctoral researchers, working in partnership with university research advisors and collaborating with advisors from the intelligence community, and must address one of the following topics: •determining the impact and use of synthetic biology methods to create existing, modified or new pathogens; •near-field explosive properties, understanding the effect of short duration, high intensity environments on adjacent material; •detecting needles in haystacks - how can quantum sensors help improving security screening; •measuring deterrence success of public assistance measures; •generation of novel sensors for chemical detection; •pattern detection within large complex network graphs; •agile manufacturing of multi-constituent metamaterial inspired electromagnetic devices; •an investigation of 5G technology and the threats it presents for the security community and identification of countermeasure opportunities; •research into future millimetre wave wireless systems propagation in modern built and secure environments; •smart cities, multimedia mesh networking; •automated component recognition for hardware assurance; •improving energy storage and energy harvesting in IoT wireless sensor nodes; •modelling the effects of mechanical stress for batteries in wearable applications; •propagation-resistant safe battery packs without compromising on high energy densities; •robust physical layer security for wireless communications. •improving quantum and optical sensors using machine learning techniques; •reconfigurable broadband RF metamaterials; •reasoning for autonomous domain specific robots; •cyber influence on behaviour change: Prevalence, predictors, progress and prevention; •explainable and trustworthy artificial intelligence. Early-career researchers of any nationality, who have been awarded their PhD no more than four years prior to the closing date may apply. PhD students may apply, but must have completed their PhD before commencing the fellowship. Applicants may not hold a permanent academic position. Fellowships must be held at a UK HEI in a department that can show it is capable of fully supporting the research project and researcher. Non-UK and non-EU applicants must have five years of continuous residency in the UK prior to the commencement of the fellowship. Applicants from underrepresented groups across engineering are encouraged to apply. Fellowships are worth up to £200,000 over two years.

Website: http://www.raeng.org.uk/grants-and-prizes/support-for-research/ic-postdoctoral

Disciplines: Physical Sciences and Engineering; Military Sciences