Owen McAree

A fully funded PhD opportunity is available at the University of Liverpool, School of Engineering, supervised by Owen McAree and Michael Jump. The project, titled 'Risk aware Uncrewed Aircraft for autonomous Drone-In-A-Box operations,' aims to develop intelligent, risk-aware drones capable of real-time monitoring and management of risks to third parties both on the ground and in the air. The research will focus on shifting the human role from remote piloting to air traffic control, enabling scalable multiple simultaneous drone operations. The main application areas include routine monitoring of critical national infrastructure such as road and rail networks, as well as emergency response scenarios. The successful candidate will have opportunities to collaborate with external organizations working in these domains. Applicants must be UK students with a strong background in aerospace engineering, robotics, computer science, or related fields, and an interest in autonomous systems and risk management. The position is fully funded, covering tuition and stipend, with the application deadline set for 15 August 2025. Interested candidates should apply via the provided link and may contact the supervisors for further information.