A PhD studentship including full fees and maintenance is available in the internationally leading Control and Instrumentation Research Group of the University of Leicester. This studentship is open to applicants of any nationality and will be awarded solely on the basis of academic merit. The studentship is available for three years, and the student is not required to undertake any teaching activities.
The student will work on a number of space related control research projects, including linear-parameter varying (LPV) control of hypersonic re-entry vehicles, worst-case analysis of autonomous satellite rendezvous, and flying qualities analysis of re-usable launch vehicles. Supervised by Dr. Declan Bates, the student will work with a team of researchers from the Control and Instrumentation Research Group, including Dr. Emmanuel Prempain, Dr. Prathyush Menon and Prof. Ian Postlethwaite. The student will also have the opportunity to work closely with industrial control engineers from a number of leading space companies, as well as research scientists from the European Space Agency. This is a fantastic opportunity for a young researcher to obtain direct experience of cutting-edge control research in a number of European space programmes.
Candidates should have an outstanding academic record and have a first-class Bachelors degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering. The ideal candidate would also have a Masters degree in
Systems or Control theory, or Aerospace Engineering with a specialism in flight control and dynamics.
Candidates should apply in the first instance by email to Dr. Declan Bates (dgb3@le.ac.uk), attaching a detailed CV and the names of up to three referees. It is expected that the student will start their degree at Leicester in October 2008, and applications will be accepted until the post is filled.