PhD Studentship in Formal Requirements and Specification-based Automated Testing for Safety-Critical Medical Device Software Certification Newcastle University in United Kingdom

[100% fees covered and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate). Additional project costs provided. Funded by EPSRC.]

This fully funded PhD studentship at Newcastle University’s School of Computing offers an exciting opportunity to advance research in formal requirements and specification-based automated testing for safety-critical medical device software certification. The project is part of the international PlaTFoRm-project (Practical Testing of Formal Requirements), involving collaboration with UK and EU partners such as D-RisQ Ltd, fortiss, and Verified International. The research addresses the challenge of ensuring software safety, reliability, and regulatory approval for medical devices, which are increasingly reliant on complex software for life support, monitoring, and decision-making.

Medical device software must comply with strict international regulations, including IEC 62304 and ISO14971, which require rigorous safety assessments. Traditional testing methods often fall short in identifying rare or unforeseen failures. This PhD project aims to develop and evaluate processes that integrate formal requirements and automated test generation based on formal specifications, producing clear, traceable, and regulator-ready evidence for certification. The research will focus on a safety-critical medical device software case study, delivering traceable workflows, formal requirement templates, and automatically generated verification artefacts to support certification.

As a PhD student, you will be trained in software engineering, formal methods, and safety assurance, with no prior experience in formal methods or medical regulation required. The project includes comprehensive training, supervision, and a gradual progression into research work. You will learn to express software requirements using formal models, generate automated test cases, and trace verification evidence back to safety requirements. The project outputs will support medical device certification standards and promote industrial adoption and regulatory engagement, benefiting startups, SMEs, and ultimately patients.

The research environment is based in Newcastle University’s Computing AMBER-group, which specializes in safety-critical software, medical systems, simulation, and neuroprosthetics. You will collaborate with industry partners on requirements engineering, safety-critical test generation, static analysis, code testing, and system robustness testing. The project offers opportunities for industrial engagement, international collaboration, and exposure to regulatory challenges, providing a strong foundation for careers in research, industry, or regulation.

The studentship covers 100% tuition fees and provides a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate), with additional project costs supported. The award duration is four years, starting on 1 October 2026. Applicants should have a strong academic background in computer science, software engineering, biomedical engineering, or a related discipline. A Master’s degree is helpful but not essential. The position is particularly suitable for motivated UK graduates interested in developing advanced research and technical skills while making a real societal impact in healthcare technologies.

To apply, visit the Newcastle University funding page for eligibility criteria and application instructions. Complete the online application form and submit required documents before the deadline of 15 February 2026. For further information, contact Leo Freitas or Kenneth Pierce. This studentship is sponsored by EPSRC and offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of medical device software safety and certification.