Richard Suphapol Diteesawat

The University of Bristol is inviting applications for PhD scholarship projects at the intersection of smart textiles, soft robotics and assistive technology . The research will explore how advanced fibres, yarns, textile structures and robotic actuation can enable wearable assistive technologies and next-generation robotic clothing. The available research directions include novel functional fibres and yarns for actuating and sensing textiles; soft robotic actuators for multifunctional robotic textiles and assistive wearable garments; and the integration of smart deployable structures with soft robotic actuation to engineer morph-shaping textiles. The projects are associated with Richard Suphapol Diteesawat, Assistant Professor in Assistive Robotics and Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow at the University of Bristol. The work offers a research environment spanning robotics, smart materials and structures, textile engineering, wearable robotics and assistive technology.

The University of Bristol is offering two exciting PhD opportunities in the field of smart and robotic textiles, led by Dr. Richard Suphapol Diteesawat, a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow. These projects focus on the development of novel functional fibres and yarns for advanced actuating and sensing textiles, as well as the integration of smart deployable structures and soft robotic actuation to engineer next-generation intelligent textiles. The research is part of the Soft Robotics Research group (SoftLab) and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, the UK's largest multidisciplinary robotics research centre. The projects aim to advance wearable assistive technologies, robotic clothing, and responsive structures by bridging materials science, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Applicants with a background in engineering, materials science, robotics, or related fields are encouraged to apply. Funding is available through the University of Bristol Postgraduate Research Scholarship and the China Scholarship Council (CSC)–Bristol Joint Scholarship, with alternative funding options possible for strong candidates. The internal application deadline is 17th November 2025. Interested candidates should review the project details, check their eligibility, and contact Dr. Diteesawat to discuss their application and research interests.