University of Hull offers clusters of science and engineering PhD Scholarships

We are pleased to announce 15 science and engineering full PhD Scholarships for 2016 entry.

The University of Hull are offering over 40 Scholarships in total to UK, EU and international students, as part of its ongoing commitment to research.

The PhD Scholarships will be combined with investments in Post-Doctoral positions to build robust expertise in key research cluster areas. Each of the PhD projects are distinct and many are interdisciplinary or in collaboration with industry.

The Scholarships cover full fees for UK, EU and international students. UK and EU students also receive a tax-free maintenance stipend that is in line with Research Councils UK Doctoral Training Centre levels. The closing date for applications is 29 February 2016.

Professor Dan Parsons, Associate Dean for Research and Enterprise in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: “We are delighted to announce these PhD Scholarship opportunities and to  build a robust research environment around these important clusters of research. We look forward to many applications for these excellent projects.”

PhD Scholarships

The Scholarships offered within the Faculty of Science and Engineering are available in the following five research clusters:

Gender, Place and Memory, 1400-1900

These PhD projects form part of the Gender, Place and Memory 1400-1900 research cluster at the University of Hull which draws in academics and researchers from History, English and Geography:

Women walking the world: emotions, place and memory in English court records, 1400-1800

Women, property and the law: mapping sexual inequality in the East Riding of Yorkshire, 1708-1974

3D Printing of Bio-inspired Composites as a Cross-Cutting Capability

We are investing significant resources in creating a 3D printing research cluster which combines the expertise of chemists, engineers and physicists to create novel materials through rational design.

3D printing of functionally graded complex composites

3D printing: Bio-inspired self-healing composite materials

Catastrophic Flows

Catastrophic flows have shaped and reshaped our physical environment, and the humans that reside on them since the planet was first formed. The lessons we glean from these epic events in the past have the power to change the way we predict and survive future occurrences.

Scaling flood events and ecohydraulics in experimental models

Coastal system resilience under increased storminess

Simulating catastrophic flows on Mars

Quantifying the sedimentation of ignimbrites: understanding the behaviour of pyroclastic density currents through experimental modelling

Origins: From the Sub-Atomic to Clusters of Galaxies

We are pleased to announce four new PhD studentships within the University’s E.A. Milne Centre for Astrophysics, spanning the sub-atomic to the largest scales in the Universe.

Nucleosynthetic yields and artificial stars

The cosmic distance ladder

Star formation in cluster galaxies

Extreme solar flares

Directed Self Assembly

These PhD positions are part of a major research initiative from the University of Hull to create a directed self-assembly cluster combining the expertise of chemists and physicists to create novel materials.

Directed self-assembly for metamaterials: physics and devices: geometries for nanophotonic applications

Directed self-assembly for metamaterials: physics and devices: optical and electrical properties of self-assembled metamaterials

Novel chiroptical organic/metal nano systems

 

For more information about the University of Hull Scholarships 2016, and to apply, visit www.hull.ac.uk/phd

New brochure showcases world-leading science and engineering research

A new brochure from the University of Hull offers an insight into the pioneering research undertaken by staff and postgraduate research students across its Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Research in Focus 2016 showcases the work of a range of leading-edge researchers and its real life impact.

Following interest in the first publication of this type from 2014 – ‘Inspired in Hull’, which highlights examples of exciting research from all departments in the Faculty – the new brochure also features PhD students describing the research they are undertaking, and a selection of exciting research news from across the Faculty.

The publication, available online or in print format, has already been shared with other Universities and their students, from as far afield as China and Malaysia.

Professor Stephen Kelly, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering said: “Our 2016 research brochure highlights some of the novel and exciting research being conducted across the Faculty. I am immensely proud of our diverse and collaborative research that is addressing real world problems, from understanding how the Earth is responding to climate change to breakthroughs in ‘bench-to-bedside’ cancer treatments.”

Professor Dan Parsons, Associate Dean for Research and Enterprise, added: “We are committed to conducting excellent, world-leading research that addresses critical challenges in today’s world. Our most recent 2014 Research Excellence Framework results reflect the work of our staff, researchers and research students in pushing the boundaries of science and engineering that is making a difference in the world.”

Research in Focus also includes the latest information about the high quality research environment at the University, and the investment in facilities such as the world-class Brynmor Jones Library and the Allam Building which houses a revamped biomedical research facility with two research centres – one focusing on cardiovascular and metabolic disease and the other on cancer. These are just two of the areas in which the University has an international reputation.

To request free printed copies of the brochure please email science@hull.ac.uk

Grants awarded in July 2015 (over £10k)

Dr S Hull, £241,000, Heritage Lottery Fund, ‘Capturing the Coast’ marine ecology project

Dr K Earle, Dr G Abt, £15,000, Hull City Tigers Ltd, Studentship – Hull City Tigers – James Deighton

Prof T Coulthard, £25,000, Environment Agency, Collaborative research agreement relating to long-term morphodynamics and sedimentation of the Holderness coast and Humber Estuary

Dr J Purdy, £14,943, Nottingham University Hospitals, I-BiT+ Assessment and treatment of patients with Amblyopia using interactive binocular computer games

Old videogames given new life – but can you ever really go back?

Above: Everything old is new again: ZX Spectrum Vega (Copyright Retro Computer)

By Simon Grey, Lecturer in Computer Science

Those over the age of 30 or so may recall fondly the 1980s British home computer boom, which saw the arrival of classic machines such as the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro and Amstrad CPC.

Perhaps taking advantage of the spending power of this older crowd, numerous products have been launched to capitalise on nostalgia for the games of this era. The ZX Spectrum Vega is a new device that harks back to the design of the original, and which comes loaded with 1,000 classic games. The Vega is able to use a television as a display, but thankfully modern technology has done away with the need to load games from tape. Similar ideas have been used to reintroduce the classic Atari 2600, the Commodore 64 and even another Sinclair revival, as a game controller.

When your body becomes your password, the end of the login is nigh

Soon you will be the key. face scan by Franck Boston/www.shutterstock.com

 

By Rob Miles, University of Hull

Passwords are a pain. I’ve just had to rummage around for the password required in order to post this article. I seem to have 100 or more different identities on different websites to manage. Whenever I book a flight or buy a concert ticket this often means setting up yet another persona and coming up with a password to authenticate it.

It’s got so bad I’ve resorted to a password manager program to suggest secure, truly random passwords and then keep track of them for me. Of course if I forget the password to that program, or worse still if someone else guesses that password, I’ll be in all sorts of trouble.

Graduates create affordable virtual reality experience

Graduates from Hull have designed a low-cost headset to open up the virtual reality (VR) experience to a much wider audience.

The VISR headset, a Kickstarter project launched by graduates who studied at the University of Hull, has been created using inexpensive laminated corrugated material with high durability and is powered by your smartphone.

It comes fully assembled and ready for you to load up your virtual reality games, movies or apps and immerse yourself in that virtual reality world.

REF 2014: Outstanding results across the Faculty of Science and Engineering

The Faculty of Science and Engineering have received outstanding results in REF 2014, underpinning much of the University’s performance across the board.

The University’s best result was in the area of Allied Health (led by Professor John Greenman), where an outstanding 87% of research submitted was awarded three or four stars.

There are some other excellent returns across the Faculty:

 

Ranked 3^rd for impact across the UK: Geography and Environmental Sciences

Geography and Environmental Sciences (a joint submission of The Department of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences and the School of Biological, Biomedical and Environmental Sciences), were ranked third for research impact across the UK (and joint 1st in England), with 70% of submitted research receiving four stars.

 

Joint 5^th for impact nationally: Computer Science

Computer Science are ranked in joint fifth position for impact nationally (out of 89 submissions to this unit), with 80% of submitted research receiving four stars.

 

Research deemed internationally excellent or world-leading: Chemistry and General Engineering

Chemistry and General Engineering also performed extremely well, with more than 75% of research submitted to each of these units achieving three or four stars.

 

Biggest improvement in GPA across the University: Sport, Health and Exercise Science

The Faculty also saw the biggest improvement in GPA across the University, where the Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Science went from 1.55 in 2008, to 2.36 in 2014.

 

The University as a whole has a top 50 position for Research Power.

The results across the Faculty of Science and Engineering reflect the work of our researchers pushing the boundaries of science and engineering to make a difference in the world.

Onwards to REF 2020!

Revolutionary instant vital signs monitor receives recognition at the IET Innovation Awards

An innovative handheld monitor that instantly reads a person’s vital signs has received recognition at the IET Innovation Awards 2014.

The invention, called Eimo, is a simple device for anyone to use, anywhere, to collect their own vital signs, including pulse, oxygen level, core body temperature, blood pressure and a full ECG trace.

3D cave brings virtual reality to offshore renewable training

The 3D cave prepares engineers for working in hazardous scenarios, such as working at the top of a 150m offshore wind turbine, or simulate the journey to an offshore platform via specialist vessel. This provides engineers working or training in the renewable energy industry the chance to experience hostile, dangerous and complex conditions, prior to leaving the shore.

Located in the Hull Immersive Visualization Environment (HIVE) in the Department of Computer Science, the cave is part of an investment in renewables led by CASS, the University’s business facing renewable energy and low-carbon hub.

As well as using a 3D cave, the project simulates (using a head mounted display) the winching experience to and from a turbine by helicopter.