EU-funded PhD studentships at Kingston Business School

Kingston Business School, at Kingston University, is launching some EU-funded PhD projects in January 2025.

Research projects available

There are two research projects available.

For the 6G-VERSUS project, the deadline is 6 January 2025.

For the COP-PILOT project, the deadline is 11 December 2024.

6G-VERSUS: 6G vertical trials for sustainability

Project supervisors

Professor Sankar Sivarajah, Professor Gaëlle Vallée-Tourangeau

Project description

The journey towards tangible sustainability outcomes necessitates a fusion of technological advancements with strategic experimentation. In this pursuit, 6G-VERSUS emerges as a pioneering initiative, leveraging cutting-edge 6G research facilities across Europe to explore the frontiers of sustainable technology. Through meticulously designed trials and pilots, 6G-VERSUS addresses pressing challenges in 5 environmentally conscious vertical industries. In this regard, 6G-VERSUS introduces a novel methodology, transforming existing use cases into 6G applications, comprising Vertical App (V-App), Network App (N-App), and AI-assisted App (AI-App). This triadic structure optimizes the data and control planes of 6G systems, facilitating seamless information flow and decision-making processes. With the support of six (Stream C) 6G platforms spanning across Europe, 6G-VERSUS aims to demonstrate the profound sustainable, economic and societal impact of 6G technology, propelling towards a more sustainable and prosperous society.

The successful PhD candidate will be required to undertake research for a doctoral thesis while assisting the R&D in the 6G-VERSUS project which is a large multi-partner European Commission-funded project on the profound sustainable, economic and societal impact of 6G technology. The candidate will assist the Kingston University research team in developing the validation and evaluation framework for the 6G-VERSUS activities, including the requirements for the evaluations of environmental impacts, societal implications, and economic effects of 6G technology implementation within real-world contexts.

While doing this, the candidate will be expected to align the R&D work in the project to their PhD research and thesis. This will include developing a systematic approach and framework to assess the potential environmental, societal, cultural, business and economic impacts of the activities associated with the project using scientific methods, models, and expert judgment. It involves defining the criteria and standards, and the Key Performance and Value Indicators for evaluating the impacts of 6G-VERSUS development and sustainable implementation. Therefore, the role will involve leading the development of the validation and evaluation goals and objectives ensuring they are specific, measurable, achievable, and financially viable; determining the criteria and standards for the evaluation; and defining the methods to collect data for the evaluation, including surveys, interviews, workshops, focus groups, metrics, technical and financial measurements.

The work will involve collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team of industry and academic experts from across Europe and the candidate will be required to travel to pilot sites for data collection. Therefore, there will be opportunities to gain skills in many areas including performance management, project management, and qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods.

Funding notes:

This project has full funding for UK students, which will cover tuition fees, a tax-free stipend of £21,237 per year for living costs, and research expenses relating to the project.

Funding for:

UK Students

Enquiries:

For informal inquiries, please email Professor Sankar Sivarajah or Professor Gaëlle Vallée-Tourangeau.

How to apply:

Potential candidates should apply directly online through the online application portal.

Deadline

6 January 2025

COP-PILOT: Collaborative open platform for piloting services across emerging smart IoT and Edge computing environments

Project supervisors

  • Professor Sankar Sivarajah
  • Professor Youngseok Choi

Project description

The integration of edge computing, advanced 5G, and decentralised processing is driving private edge ecosystems with potential to transform industries. To fully leverage edge-level intelligent management, platform development and cross-sector collaboration are essential. COP-PILOT aims to provide this with its Collaborative Open Platform, designed to orchestrate services across industries with robust security, automation, and intelligence features. COP-PILOT's framework ensures interoperability by integrating seamlessly with technologies like IoT platforms and core infrastructure, fostering collaboration across the compute continuum. It supports advanced cross-sector applications by enhancing security, resource management, and automation. The platform's implementation follows two main paths: platform enablement and real-environment integration. The platform uses a modular orchestration approach, with a user-friendly generative AI interface that simplifies onboarding of complex applications. For real-world deployment, COP-PILOT is tested across four large pilot clusters in diverse sectors like energy, smart cities, agriculture, and manufacturing, enabling applications in mobility, logistics, and resource management.

The successful PhD candidate will be required to undertake research for a doctoral thesis while assisting the R&D in the COP-PILOT project which is a large multi-partner European Commission-funded project on the development and experimentation of edge computing technology. The candidate will assist the Kingston University London research team in developing the validation and evaluation framework for the COP-PILOT activities, including the requirements for the COP-PILOT experimentation environment. While doing this, the candidate will be expected to align the R&D work in the project to their PhD research and thesis. This will include developing a systematic approach and framework to assess the validity and reliability of the COP-PILOT architecture, platform, technical components, testbeds, and trials and pilots' experiments. It involves defining the criteria and standards, and the Key Performance and Value Indicators for evaluating the effectiveness and impact of the edge computing pilot and collecting and analysing data to assess how well the experiments meet these criteria. Therefore, the role will involve leading the development of the validation and evaluation goals and objectives ensuring they are specific, measurable, achievable, and financially viable; determining the criteria and standards for the evaluation; and defining the methods to collect data for the evaluation, including surveys, interviews, workshops, focus groups, metrics, technical and financial measurements.

Funding notes

This project has full funding for UK and international students, which will cover tuition fees, a tax-free stipend of £21,237 per year for living costs, and research expenses relating to the project.

Funding for:

UK and international students

Enquiries:

For informal inquiries, please email Professor Sankar Sivarajah or Professor Youngseok Choi.

How to apply

Potential candidates should apply directly online through the online application portal.

Deadline

11 December 2024

 

How to apply

If you would like to apply for a Studentship at Kingston University, please follow the steps below.

Academic and administrative staff will be happy to help with queries but please note that they are available during working hours only and some staff work part time, so please give yourself plenty of time to complete the application.

Ensure you have included all the relevant documents, including English language certificates if applicable. A list is under Step 3 below. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Eligibility

To apply you must:

  • have (or expect to have by 30 September 2024) a postgraduate masters degree or a first/upper second class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed research project. Equivalent professional experience may also be accepted.
  • be intending to research in an area that is covered by Kingston University research expertise.
  • if you are not from an English-speaking country or have not studied at a UK university before, you must provide proof of Internet-based IELTS at a minimum overall score of 6.5 or 7 (or equivalent qualification). The requirement varies by subject, so please see our English Language Requirements for further details. Note that the qualification must be dated no earlier than 30 September 2021.

Please note that:

  • Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
    All documents must be uploaded to the application, including evidence of English language qualifications, if applicable.
  • Current doctoral students are not eligible to apply.
  • You should allow plenty of time to apply. Academic and administrative staff will be happy to help but are not able to answer queries outside the working week; some staff also work part time.

Step 1: write a proposal

You will need to write a research proposal to support your Studentship application. For guidance on how to put together a research proposal, please visit the faculty page:

You may want to discuss your research proposal with potential supervisors before you submit your application.

Please explore our staff profiles to find information on University staff and their research interests.

Advertised projects

When you submit your online application, please include a separate document stating the advertising project title.

Step 2: write a studentship application statement

You must write a Studentship Application Statement and submit it with your online application. The statement should cover the points listed below. Maximum 500 words. Note that you do not also need to include a personal statement, unless you wish to.

In your Studentship Application Statement, please cover these points:

1. Why do you want to do a PhD?

Signing up for a PhD is a big undertaking. We need to know that you understand the commitment required for research and have a passion for your subject.

2. Why Kingston University?

What makes you keen to study with us at Kingston?

3. Why this subject area?

What is it about the area you have chosen that inspires you?

4. What will be the impact of your research and who will be reading it?

The impact of your research is how it will bring change to the wider society beyond academia (e.g. economy, society, culture, public policy, health, the environment and quality of life – both within the UK and overseas).

Who are the wider audiences for your research, perhaps in professional practice, policy-making, popular culture?

Who do you want to reach with your research?

How might you do so?

5. Your academic and/or professional background

How will your skills and expertise help you successfully complete your research project?

6. What personal qualities do you have that make you suited to PhD research?

For example: resilience and tenacity.

7. Assessment of personal development needs

A PhD is all about training to be a researcher. What knowledge and skills will you need to develop to conduct the proposed research?

How can we support your personal development?

Step 3: apply online

You should submit your application, research proposal and Studentship Application Statement online.

Please note, there are different application links for each faculty, so please make sure you use the correct apply link.

You should select the October 2024 option.

Make your application using our online portal

Include with your application:

  • Your research proposal. If you are applying for an advertised project (see Step 1), please paste the title and link to the advertisement into a document and upload it under the Research Proposal document type.
  • A KU Studentship Application Statement. Please follow our template and guidance outlined in Step 2. If you do not include this statement your application will not be considered for a studentship. Upload this at the end of the online application under the Personal Statement document type. You do not need to provide an additional personal statement, but may do so if you wish.
  • Copies of your transcripts and/or degree certificates, or partial transcripts if you have not yet completed the degree (you will be required to provide the originals for verification at a later date).
  • English language qualification, if applicable (see above).
  • CV, including publications (if relevant).

Step 4: complete the equal opportunities form

Kingston University is committed to ensuring that students are selected on the basis of merit. Completion of the equal opportunities form will help us to ensure that our policies and procedures are effective in avoiding discrimination and promoting equal opportunities in awarding studentships.

Your answers will not affect your application in any way. The information will not be seen by your potential supervisors, your referees, or the reviewers assessing your application.

Complete the equal opportunities form. 

Step 5: provide references

References are not required with the application but will be required for shortlisted applicants and must be provided by the applicant before their interview.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified and must ensure references are submitted to the relevant Faculty. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that references are submitted to the relevant Faculty.

Referees should be asked to complete the Reference Form.

Who can provide a reference?

References should be from professional or academic contacts and cannot be from family members or friends. At least one reference should be from someone who knows you from your most recent academic qualification.

Step 6: attend an interview

You may be invited to attend an interview as part of your Studentship application.

  • Interviews for COP-PILOT will be held on 20 December 2024.
  • Interviews for 6G-Versus will be held on 13 January 2025.

Applicants invited for interview will be informed as soon as possible after the closing date. If you have not heard from us, your application has been unsuccessful.

Need more information?

Please read our Frequently Asked Questions – KU Doctoral Studentships 2025 (PDF).

Read about our past and current research students and their research projects:

For more information about research degree programmes at Kingston University.

For faculty-specific enquiries please contact the relevant Research Student Coordinator listed below.

Faculty of Business and Social Sciences

Visit the Faculty's research webpage for more information.

For enquiries please email the research student coordinator at BUSSSRESEARCH-INFO@kingston.ac.uk.