Fully Funded Swansea University UK 2022 Computer Science/Engineering Industrial AI

The steel industry produces in excess of 1.7bn tonnes of steel per year and accounts for ~10% of global carbon emissions. Digitalization of industrial processes, driven by development of low-cost wireless remote sensors and advances in data analytics, offer tremendous opportunities to improve both energy and material efficiency for the steel industry and, hence, reducing the environmental impact.

This research project will look at the application of novel sensors technologies, fused with physics informed AI models, in the hot strip mill at Port Talbot to create actionable insight during manufacture which will enable the production of tailorable, guaranteed, right-first-time materials. The research will be undertaken collaboratively with the industry partner to inform/improve management decision making to improve the hot strip mill. 

The key driver for this project is to improve both energy and material efficiency for the industry both of which will help to reduce the environmental impact of the process, a 1% material efficiency saving is the equivalent of 60,000 tonnes of CO? saved.

The PhD Researcher will be affiliated to the M2A (Materials and Manufacturing Academy) research community and be part of the Industrial AI and Data Modelling research group, based in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Swansea University. They will work in connection to the Made Smarter Innovation – Materials Made Smarter Research Centre, a partnership of five UK leading universities (The Universities of Sheffield, UCL, Cambridge, Brunel, Nottingham and Swansea).

 The main aims of the research project are:

• Integrate these new data streams with existing hot mill data;
• Use various data analytics techniques combined with physical modelling to translate the data into useful information;
• Work with the industry partner to understand the hot rolling process and in negotiating existing IT infrastructure on the plant.

• Table of Content
• About Swansea University
• Swansea University PhD Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Swansea University PhD Scholarship
• Swansea University PhD Scholarship Courses
• Requirements for Swansea University PhD Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Swansea University

Swansea University has been at the cutting edge of research and innovation since 1920. We have a long history of working with business and industry but today our world-class research has a much wider impact across the health, wealth, culture, and well-being of our society. We have achieved an extraordinary level of success in recent years and our research activity exceeds that of many larger universities yet this has not compromised the friendly and relaxed atmosphere that has always characterised the �Swansea experience�. In our Centenary year, we look forward to continuing to work ... continue reading

Swansea University PhD Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Swansea University PhD Scholarship

The scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees, plus a tax free stipend of £20,000 p.a. for 3 years.

Swansea University PhD Scholarship Courses

• Industrial AI/ Material Modelling

Requirements for Swansea University PhD Scholarship Qualification

Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline. See - Country-specific Information for European Applicants 2019 and Country-specific Information for International Applicants 2019.

We would normally expect candidates to have met the University’s English Language requirements (e.g. IELTS 6.5 overall with 5.5+ in each component) by point of application. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations.

NB: If you are holding a non-UK degree, please see Swansea University degree comparisons to find out if you meet the eligibility. 

Application Deadline

How to Apply

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice – please select Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D. / Full-time / 3 Year / April
2. Start year – please select 2022
3. Funding (page 8) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS19 - PhD Industrial AI’

*Please note that applications received without the above information may not be considered.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
• Two references (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)