Research Environment
We provide an intellectually stimulating environment where you will be exposed to a wide range of creative problem solving techniques that will enable you to tackle complex and multi-disciplinary problems in innovative ways.
Networking and Collaborative Opportunities
As one of our research students, you will actively engage with other academic collaborators, particularly where new skills and techniques are best pursued in a partner laboratory, in industry or overseas, where this fits with the individual and scope of the project .
The department's seminar programme provides an opportunity to all postgraduate research students to engage with leading researchers from outside the department, as well as with academics and graduate students from our department, as they present and discuss their cutting-edge research. This is an excellent opportunity for you to join with other students, faculty, staff, and visitors to actively participate in the scientific community.
Every year, the department runs a Postgraduate Student Symposium. The aim is to provide a platform for our research students to present their work and discuss it with other students and everyone interested in the research work of the department. Typically, there are short talks given by 2nd and 3rd year PhD Centre students and a lunchtime poster session at which 1st year PhD students present their work.
Research facilities
Buildings and Laboratories
The department occupies buildings that are in close proximity in the Mappin Street area of campus, namely the Amy Johnson Building, the Sir Henry Stephenson Building and the BioIncubator Building.
The Amy Johnson Building hosts the University Technology Centre in Control and Systems Engineering supported by Rolls Royce, and ACSE's section of the Institute for Microstructural and Mechanical Process Engineering (IMMPETUS). It also provides the base for a number of research teams including Space Instrumentation, Biomedical Systems, Intelligent Systems, Active Sound & Vibration Control, Intelligent Simulation & Control, and Smart and Adaptive Systems.
The Sir Henry Stephenson Building hosts the Centre for Signal Processing and Complex Systems (CSPCS), the Signal Processing and Complex Systems research team, and research in Natural Robotics. It is also the home for ACSE's researchers within the Centre for Signal Processing in Neuroimaging and Systems Neuroscience (SPiNSN). In addition the Sir Henry Stephenson Building has general purpose teaching laboratories: a Computer Laboratory, a Real Time Systems Laboratory and a Robotics and Mechatronics Projects Laboratory.
The Bioincubator Building houses further teaching laboratories, these being two Systems and Control Laboratories and a Projects Laboratory.
Computing
All postgraduate research students have access to a wide range of computing facilities. The Corporate Information and Computing Services (CiCS) provides more than 1600 secure computers in rooms across campus. All computers are connected to the campus network, which is maintained by CiCS and provides access to software, services and to the internet. A large choice of software is available, including comprehensive internet access, email, CAD, statistical and other specialist software.
In addition, all our PhD students are provided with a personal computer and have access to computers and project-specific software and hardware tools in dedicated laboratories in the department.
Information and Library Resources
Looking after more than 1.4million books, periodicals, DVDs and other items, and over 10,000 electronic journals, e-books, and subject databases, and providing access to further services, The University Library is a crucial part of the University. It is comprised of the Information Commons, The Western Bank Library, The St George's Library, and The Health Sciences Library.
The Information Commons, jointly managed by the University Library and Corporate Information and Computing Services, is a high-quality, comfortable learning environment. In addition to holding books and journals, it has over 500 computers and 1300 individual and group study spaces.
The St George's Library, conveniently between The Amy Johnson Building and the Sir Henry Stephenson Building, houses engineering, management, information studies and computer science subjects.
The Western Bank Library, covering arts and humanities, science, most social sciences, law and architecture is at the centre of the campus. The Health Sciences Library houses collections covering medical and dental sciences.
Engineering Graduate School
Plans for a new Engineering Graduate School have been approved by the University’s Council, leading the way for a £21m expansion of facilities in the Engineering Faculty.
The Engineering Graduate School will house collaborative and interdisciplinary research groups and has been planned both to enable the growth of the faculty’s postgraduate research and learning activities and to further enhance the postgraduate student experience within the faculty. The building is expected to be completed in time for the 2013 academic year.
Student support
The University and the Union of Students are well-equipped to assist with welfare or other problems which may arise.
The PhD supervisory team is always ready to discuss problems concerned with your studies as well as help with personal problems and, if necessary, can put you in touch with the relevant section of our student support services for more specialist advice.