- Deep water mooring lines for floating offshore wind turbines and software for autonomous space robotics are among the latest projects to be supported by the Academy’s flagship scheme for early career researchers.
- Funding increased up to £625,000 over five years.
The Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships programme has announced 17 new awardees, including one Associate Research Fellow.
The engineering research supported by the latest fellowships addresses a range of new applications of AI and machine learning, health and medical care, energy supplies and power generation, as well as environmental safety and sustainability. Other projects include data security and high-performance laser technology.
Now in its 21st year, the Research Fellowships programme supports outstanding early-career researchers to become future research leaders in engineering. The fellowships are designed to advance excellence in engineering by providing funding for five years to allow awardees the freedom to concentrate on basic research in any field of engineering. This year the value of the awards has been increased to offer up to £625,000 over five years.
In addition to direct financial support, the scheme provides an opportunity to establish a research track record and, in turn, to be in a stronger position to apply for additional funding and grow a research team. Awardees also benefit from mentoring support from an Academy Fellow on research and career development as well as reduced teaching and administrative duties to allow time for research, training opportunities and networking with other Research Fellows and Academy Fellows.
The full list of Research Fellows and their projects is as follows:
- Dr Christiaan Bekker, Heriot-Watt University
Engineering a scalable quantum memory in silicon carbide - Dr Rajesh Kumar Bhagat, University of Cambridge
Flow physics of respiratory droplets: interfacial and ventilation flows - Dr Christian Brahms, Heriot-Watt University
High-performance vacuum ultraviolet laser sources - Dr Jack C Gartside, Imperial College London
Engineering magnonic metamaterials for low-energy neuromorphic computing - Dr Kari Clark, University College London
Optical clocks for ultra-accurate clock synchronised 6G wireless - Dr Adam Clayton, University of Leeds
Autonomous development of multi-stage chemical processes - Dr Matthew Deakin, Newcastle University
Achieving net zero with hybrid power systems - Dr Duncan Dockar, University of Edinburgh
Engineering bulk nanobubbles for enhanced water disinfection and quality - Dr Rezvan Farahibozorg, University of Oxford
Next generation brain function mapping techniques for personalised medicine - Dr Marie Farrell, University of Manchester
Strong software reliability for autonomous space robotics - Dr Henry Gouk, University of Edinburgh
Verifiable and robust meta-learning - Dr Katherine Kwa, University of Southampton
Station-keeping solutions to enable floating offshore renewable energy - Dr Alex Leide, UK Atomic Energy Authority
Multi-scale investigation of next-generation, high-temperature reactor materials - Dr Reshma Rao, Imperial College London
Seeing the invisible – probing hydrogen production from low-grade water - Dr Sina Saffaran, University of Warwick
Automated individualised mechanical ventilation of critically ill patients - Dr Yijing Xie, King's College London
Seeing the invisibles: 3D functional optical imaging for brain surgery.
An Associate Research Fellowship has been awarded to:
- Dr Alistair Bounds, Occuity Ltd
Window to health: ocular imaging for chronic and systemic disease
Associate Research Fellowships are awarded to applicants who have made the shortlist for an Academy Research Fellowship but decline the Academy’s award offer to accept a research fellowship with another institution. Although no longer eligible to receive the full financial support associated with an Academy Research Fellowship they are still eligible to receive in-kind support, such as training, mentoring, and networking events as well as some additional funding opportunities.
Notes for Editors
- The Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships support early-career researchers to establish successful research careers and become future research leaders in their fields. The scheme provides funding for five years to allow awardees the freedom to concentrate on basic research in any field of engineering and establish a track record in the field. Funding for the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships is provided by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Fellowships can be hosted at any UK university or any UK research organisation that is eligible to receive UKRI funding.
The scheme is currently open for applications until 4.00pm on 20 September 2022. The current round accepts applications for the following research fellowship schemes:
- Research Fellowship
- Engineering for Development Research Fellowship
For more information, please visit: RAEng Research Fellowships
- The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.
Media enquiries to: Pippa Cox at the Royal Academy of Engineering Tel. +44 207 766 0745; email: [email protected]