Fully funded PhD in Techno-economic Optimisation of Robotic Inspection for Circular Offshore Energy Assets The University of Manchester in United Kingdom

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Robotics and AI for Net Zero (RAINZ CDT) is advertising a fully funded PhD project for September 2026 entry titled Techno-economic optimisation of robotic inspection for circular offshore energy assets.

The project is supervised by Prof Maria Sharmina and Dr Pawel Ladosz at The University of Manchester. The broader CDT spans robotics, AI, and net zero research, with projects and training across The University of Manchester, The University of Glasgow, and The University of Oxford.

Research focus: robotics, artificial intelligence, techno-economic optimisation, robotic inspection, offshore energy assets, circular economy, and sustainability/net zero applications. This is a strong fit for applicants interested in engineering systems, autonomous inspection, optimisation, and energy transition research.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve an undergraduate degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related STEM discipline, with at least a 2:1 (or international equivalent). Programming experience is required, and applicants must not already hold a PhD. Some projects may have additional project-specific requirements.

Funding: the studentship covers Home tuition fees and provides a tax-free stipend at the UKRI minimum rate (stated as £20,780 for 2025/26), plus a Research Training and Support Grant for travel, conference attendance, secondments, consumables, and other research/training costs. Additional CDT support may be available for equipment, accessibility needs, and institutional visits. A limited number of international studentships may be available, and international fee waivers are considered case by case by the host institution.

Application window: Phase 2 deadline is 15 May 2026, 5:00 pm UK time. Applicants must use the RAINZ CDT application form, choose up to three projects, and later complete any host-university local application if shortlisted.