Are you passionate about developing novel research and keen to shape the future of energy transfer technologies in areas such as, forensic science and Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). We are recruiting a motivated PhD candidate to undertake an exciting project within the EPSRC Energy Transfer Technologies Doctoral Training Hub. As a student of the Hub, you will receive an enhanced stipend of £25,805 per year, plus additional funds of £7,000 a year for travel, conferences and research equipment. This project is co- funded by an external government partner.
- UAS are becoming useful tools across a multitude of disciplines. As this technology becomes more prevalent, understanding the forensic fingerprints of these systems after a damage causing incident is critical to both investigators and engineers in establishing events and aiding future design improvements. Currently, there remains a paucity of data in this domain, making it difficult to identify any notable trends and associated failure mechanisms or second order effects. By utilising existing forensic techniques alongside engineering approaches, this project will provide previously unidentified insights into the relationships between UAS damage types and associated events, alongside the formation of a novel multi-physic digital twin to support future forensic identification of UAS fingerprint profiles.
The main objectives are:
1. Identify, evaluate and collate the fundamental forensic signatures of damage to the UAS from known non-kinetic damage caused by novel technologies
2. Determine the efficacy of these signatures alongside identifying any other contributing factors and associated failure mechanisms or second order effects
3. Establish if relationship between damage source and the damage characteristics can be attributed to a specific damage mechanism.
4. Develop and evaluate a digital twin to support future forensic identification of UAS fingerprint profiles enhancing and expediating our identification
Why Join Us?
· Industrial Collaboration: Each PhD student within the Hub is partnered with an industry collaborator, providing placement opportunities to work and train alongside industry experts
· Comprehensive Training: The Hub offers a blend of academic and industrial training, preparing you for diverse career pathways in research or industry
· Cohort Experience: Build your research network through inclusion in a vibrant cohort of PhD students that conduct research with academic leaders across leading UK institutions. Engage in online and face-to-face activities, including cohort-building events and collaborative learning exercises
· Funding: A generous fully funded studentship (no fees and a monthly personal payment) with additional support for conferences, travel, training, consumables and extended placement with industry collaborators.
At a glance
- Application deadline22 Apr 2026
- Award type(s)PhD
- Start date08 Jun 2026
- Duration of award4 years
- EligibilityUK
- Reference numberCRAN-0058
Entry requirements
PhD Candidates must hold a minimum of an upper Second-Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline. Candidates must be UK Nationals and be willing to apply for and able to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance.
Funding
Sponsored by EPSRC and Cranfield University, this studentship will provide a bursary of up to £25,805 (tax free) plus fees* for four years.Diversity and Inclusion at Cranfield
We are committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in our CDT program, and warmly encourage applications from students of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups. We particularly welcome students with disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, and those who identify with diverse ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses. Cranfield strives to provide an accessible and inclusive environment to enable all doctoral candidates to thrive and achieve their full potential.
At Cranfield, we value our diverse staff and student community and maintain a culture where everyone can work and study together harmoniously with dignity and respect. This is reflected in our University values of ambition, impact, respect and community. We welcome students and staff from all backgrounds from over 100 countries and support our staff and students to realise their full potential, from academic achievement to mental and physical wellbeing.
We are committed to progressing the diversity and inclusion agenda, for example; gender diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through our Athena SWAN Bronze award and action plan, we are members of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and Working Families, and sponsors of International Women in Engineering Day. We are also Disability Confident Level 1 Employers and members of the Business Disability Forum and Stonewall University Champions Programme.
Cranfield Doctoral Network
Research students at Cranfield benefit from being part of a dynamic, focused and professional study environment and all become valued members of the Cranfield Doctoral Network. This network brings together both research students and staff, providing a platform for our researchers to share ideas and collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment. It aims to encourage an effective and vibrant research culture, founded upon the diversity of activities and knowledge. A tailored programme of seminars and events, alongside our Doctoral Researchers Core Development programme (transferable skills training), provide those studying a research degree with a wealth of social and networking opportunities.
How to apply
For further information please contact:
Name: Dr Richard Critchley, Dr Rachael Hazael or Dr Kate Hewins
Email: r.critchley@cranfield.ac.uk , rachael.hazael@cranfield.ac.uk, K.Norton-Hewins@cranfield.ac.uk
If you are eligible to apply for this studentship, please complete the online application form.
Please note that applications will be reviewed as they are received. Therefore, we encourage early submission, as the position may be filled before the stated deadline.
