WMG Warwick Manufacturing Group

Funding Source: EPSRC DLA Interdisciplinary Scholarships

Stipend:

• UKRI rate stipend for 3.5 years full-time (70 months part-time).
• Full Payment of academic fees (home only)
• A Researcher Training Support Grant of up to £5,000
• Access to Disabled Student Allowance, paid sick leave and paid parental leave

Supervisor: University of Warwick: Dr Arnab Palit, Prof Andy Metcalfe

Eligibility: Satisfy UKRI's eligibility criteria, this funding is restricted to Home fees candidates due to Council requirements

Start date: October 2025

Project Overview

Total Hip Replacement (THR) is a common surgical procedure, with nearly 100,000 performed annually in the UK. However, about 20% require revision within 15 years due to complications like implant loosening, dislocation, and fractures caused by suboptimal implant positioning. With primary THR demand in younger patients expected to increase fivefold by 2030, revision surgeries will also rise. To improve implant positioning, image-guided navigation is increasingly used in complex THR procedures. These systems combine preoperative planning and intraoperative measurements into a visual interface, improving surgical precision and outcomes. However, current navigation methods have significant limitations. They rely on artificial markers attached to bones, requiring additional incisions that increase the risk of injury and infection. The manual registration process adds 15-20 minutes to surgery, introduces human error, and creates line-of-sight occlusions, disrupting surgical workflow.

This interdisciplinary project aims to overcome these challenges by developing a vision-based marker-less navigation system using deep learning (DL). The project’s objectives include generating training data from synthetic datasets and real-world images (cadaver and actual intraoperative THR images), developing a marker-less segmentation and registration workflow, integrating with in-house THR pre-planning to create a complete navigation system, and validating it through cadaver experiments.

The proposed work will improve surgical workflow, shortens surgery time, enables unrestricted movement tracking, and reduces infection risks. Eliminating markers enables robot-assisted or fully automated femoral implantation, which is not possible with current systems. It aligns with key STEM themes and EPSRC’s strategic focus on ‘Engineering’, ‘Health and Medical Technologies’, and ‘AI, Digital, and Smart Applications’.

Warwick University is renowned for its high-quality research and a thriving PhD program. This strong research culture enhances both the PhD student’s experience and the demand for our graduates. This PhD project has been developed through interdisciplinary collaboration between Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), Warwick Medical School (WMS), and University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust. It offers an opportunity to apply engineering expertise to real-world challenges, making a meaningful impact. The successful applicant will work collaboratively across WMG and WMS. While the primary focus will be on biomechanics, image processing, machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and metrology, the student will also contribute to the co-design of cadaver experiments and data collection activities. Supervision will be provided by academics from various disciplines specializing in biomechanics, image processing, and computer vision, alongside orthopaedic surgeons and academics

Essential Criteria:

• A 1st or 2.1 undergraduate (BEng, BSc, MEng) and/or postgraduate masters’ qualification (MSc) in a relevant field, such as biomedical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, medical imaging, AI/ML, or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), with hands-on experience in developing and implementing algorithms using programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, or C++ for image processing or related applications.
• A passion and enthusiasm to challenge the state-of-the-art, and ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment, engaging with engineers, surgeons, and researchers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present research findings effectively.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience with medical image processing (e.g., segmentation, registration) and working with synthetic or real-world datasets (CT, X-ray, intraoperative images).

• Familiarity with marker-less tracking, computer vision-based navigation, or image-guided surgery.
• Prior research experience (e.g., a published paper, research internship, or project in a relevant area).

Funding and Eligibility: 

• UKRI rate stipend for 3.5 years full-time (70 months part-time).
• Full Payment of academic fees (home only)
• A Researcher Training Support Grant of up to £5,000
• Access to Disabled Student Allowance, paid sick leave and paid parental leave.

Satisfy UKRI's eligibility criteria, this funding is restricted to Home fees candidates due to Council requirements.

Funding Source: Warwick Industrial Fellowships

Stipend: £19,237 (increasing annually)Link opens in a new window

Supporting Company: Electronic ArtsLink opens in a new window

Supervisor: University of Warwick: Prof. Kurt Debattista and Dr. Thomas Bashford-Rogers

Eligibility: Home students

Start date: July 2025

Project Overview

The University of Warwick in partnership with Electronic Arts (EA), is looking to recruit a PhD student in computer graphics for games. This is open to home students and will fully cover tuition fees and include a tax-free stipend (£19,237 pa. currently), for a period of 3.5 years. The successful candidate will be supervised by Prof. Kurt Debattista and Dr. Thomas Bashford-Rogers at the University of Warwick, and work in collaboration with the F1 Development Team at EA.

Modern game graphics is continually pushing the boundaries of visual quality and speed often with an ultimate goal of fully photorealistic game worlds. To achieve this goal, we need advances in many areas, from light transport, sampling, geometry and material representations, and computationally efficient algorithms to display technologies and understanding human perception. This studentship aims to innovate in these areas, with a particular focus on novel methods for representing and rendering game worlds in real time.

We are seeking a student with a background in Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related STEM discipline who is passionate about computer graphics and gaming. A prior interest or experience in ML/AI rendering techniques, would be an advantage. The ideal candidate will have a deep interest in the algorithms that power graphics and a creative mindset, eager to think outside the box and develop novel solutions to complex challenges in this field

Essential and Desirable Criteria: Solid foundation in computing principles, particularly computer graphics and machine learning.

A 1st or 2.1 undergraduate (BEng, BSc, MEng) and/or postgraduate masters’ qualification (MSc).

Funding and Eligibility: Home Fee StatusLink opens in a new window. Fully funded for 3.5 years, full stipendLink opens in a new window and RTSG (£5k for travel and expenses)

Funding Source: EPSRC Industrial CASE (iCASE)

Stipend :£19,237 per annum for 4 year

Supporting Company: Tata Steel UK

Supervisor: University of Warwick: Professor Zushu Li, Dr Zhiming Yan

Eligibility: Available to Home fee status and UK domicile EU students

Start date: October 2025

Project Overview

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An enthusiastic individual is being invited to join a team of researchers to work on the EPSRC (Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council) Industrial Case funded project with industrial partner Tata Steel UK. The aim of this project is to create fundamental knowledge of biomass application in EAF (Electric Arc Furnace) steelmaking, supporting the transition to net-zero steel manufacturing.

Steel is an irreplaceable material in our modern life, while steel industry accounts for 7% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. A variety of low emission steel manufacturing processes, including the proven EAF route, are being developed to convert the currently dominating Blast Furnace – Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF-BOF) steelmaking route to low CO2 or CO2 free steelmaking route. In conventional EAF steelmaking, significant amount of fossil fuel such as anthracite is charged or injected into the bath to provide chemical energy and create slag foaming, which will not be possible in future scrap-based net-zero EAF steelmaking. In the scrap-based, net-zero EAF steelmaking, carbon neutral biomass could be the major carbon source to provide chemical energy and create slag foaming for the EAF process. In EAF steelmaking, foamy slag plays a critical role in covering/stabilising the arc, increasing energy efficiency, shielding the refractories from the arc plasma, and reducing the pick-up of nitrogen (N2) and other impurities, so appropriate slag foaming is extremely important to ensure the EAF increase productivity and quality at competitive costs.

Therefore, to enable CO2 free green steelmaking, this PhD project will thoroughly investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of different carbonaceous materials for the EAF Steelmaking process, with a focus on reaction mechanisms and kinetics between biomass and FeO-containing slag. The project will advance our understanding on carbon behaviour in EAF steelmaking process and provide information on physical and chemical properties required for biomass to ensure appropriate slag foaming in the net-zero EAF steelmaking.

The research will be carried out by using the world-leading research facilities (high temperature experiment, advanced characterisation and modelling) at the Advanced Steel Research Centre (ASRC) of WMG, the University of Warwick. This PhD studentship also offers a unique opportunity to work with the leading scientists at Tata Steel UK.

Essential and Desirable Criteria:

We are actively seeking an enthusiastic individual to join the Advanced Steel Research Centre (ASRC) at WMG, the University of Warwick with the following entry requirements and expectations:

A 1st or 2.1 undergraduate (BEng, BSc, MEng) and/or postgraduate masters’ qualification (MSc) in a science and technology field such as Metallurgy, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, Manufacturing.

A passion and enthusiasm to challenge the state-of-the-art and to apply the world leading research facilities for the creation of critical knowledge and its industrial applications.

Funding and Eligibility:

Funding of £19,237 per annum for 4 years.

Funding is available to eligible Home fee status and UK domicile EU students.

To apply please complete our online enquiry form and upload your CV, transcripts and certificates of previous studies to allow us to assess your suitability for this specific PhD.

* Please ensure you meet the minimum requirements before filling in the online form.

Funding Source: Direct funding from company

Stipend: £19,237 per annum for 4 years

Eligibility: Only UK Students

Sponsor Company: AWE

Supervisors: John Low (WMG), Richard Walton (Chemistry)

Available to Home fee status and UK domicile EU students

Start date: Starts this year 2025

Project Overview:

We wish to appoint a PhD student to work on a new project to examine the fundamentals of supercapacitor materials and how they might be used in new devices for novel energy storage applications. The project will be co-supervised by Dr John Low in the Energy Innovation Centre in the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), and Prof. Richard Walton in the Department of Chemistry (Materials and Analytical Science) in collaboration with AWE. This collaboration will combine expertise in synthetic materials chemistry and characterisation with electrochemical device fabrication.

The aim of the project will be to survey existing supercapacitor materials that are commercially available and to use this information to target the synthesis of new materials that may have improved characteristics. This will involve a wide range of world-leading analytical techniques at Warwick using Warwick’s Research Technology Platforms and facilities in WMG, spanning X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The student will gain hands-on experience and training in data collection and data analysis in these methods to gain a full understanding of materials characterisation, from the atomic-scale to the microscale.

The most promising materials will be tested in energy storage applications using the facilities in the Energy Innovation Centre, which will include electrochemical measurements and device fabrication for specific geometries. Working with our partners at AWE the devices will be assessed for application in future technologies where energy storage in extreme conditions, such as in space or where radiation tolerance is required.

Essential and Desirable Criteria

A 1st or 2.1 undergraduate degree, or a postgraduate masters’ qualification in a science and technology field such as Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Metallurgy or Engineering.

Funding Source: EPSRC Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award (IDLA)

Eligibility: Available to home fee status and UK domicile EU students

Stipend: £24,780 per annum for 4 years

Supporting Company: Tata Steel UK

Supervisors:

University of Warwick: Prof. Zushu Li, Dr Zhiming Yan,

Tata Steel UK: Dr Ciaran Martin, Dr Bin Xiao

Start date: October 2025 (or earlier)

Project Overview:

An enthusiastic researcher is invited to join a team to work on the EPSRC Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award project in collaboration with industrial partner Tata Steel UK. The project aims to advance fundamental knowledge on the impact of residual elements inherited from steel scrap on slag performance and utilisation in the scrap-based electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking. The research will support the steel industry’s transition to net-zero steel manufacturing and enhance the high-value utilisation of the new EAF steelmaking slags.

Transition to scrap-based EAF steelmaking, by using a high percentage of scrap supplemented with ore based metallics (OBMs), is an attractive route to decarbonise the steelmaking process. However, residual elements inherited from scrap may significantly alter slag performance during steelmaking and the slag utilisation. The residual elements inherited from steel scrap such as Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, Sn, and Pb, along with alloying elements from the OBMs like V and Mn (which depends on the iron ore sources) will be distributed between the steel, slag and dust during EAF steelmaking. The presence of these residual elements in the slag may influence its physical and chemical properties, including composition, viscosity, surface tension, electrical conductivity, which in turn affects the slag refining performance (e.g. desulphurisation, dephosphorisation, residual elements removal, slag foaming) and the overall EAF steelmaking process

Effective utilisation of the scrap-based EAF slags will be significantly affected by the oxide states and levels of those residual elements. Potential destinations of EAF slags include industrial waste landfills, and reuse/recycling (e.g. returning to the steel production process, high-value recycling). Industrial waste landfill will result in considerable costs to the steelmaker and should be avoided. For the high-value reuse/recycling, it is crucial to understand the phases in which residual elements exist, their behaviours during slag utilisation, and how they can be converted to amorphous phases or recovered. These challenges remain largely unexplored.

This research will be carried out by using the world-leading research facilities (high temperature experiment, advanced characterisation and modelling) at the Advanced Steel Research Centre of WMG, the University of Warwick. This PhD studentship offers a unique opportunity to work on the exciting topic with the leading scientists at Tata Steel UK.

Essential and Desirable Criteria:

A 1st or 2:1 undergraduate (BEng, BSc, MEng) and/or postgraduate masters’ qualification (MSc) in a science and technology field such as Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, ceramics, Materials Science and Engineering, Manufacturing, Physics, Chemistry,

A passion and enthusiasm to challenge the state-of-the-art and to apply the world leading research facilities for the creation of critical knowledge and its industrial applications.