Sunday, June 8, 2008

PhD studentship in Control and Instrumentation-University of Leicester

A PhD studentship including full fees and maintenance is available in
the internationally leading Control and Instrumentation Research Group
of the University of Leicester. This studentship is open to applicants
of any nationality and will be awarded solely on the basis of academic
merit. The studentship is available for three years, and the student
is not required to undertake any teaching activities.

The student will work on a number of space related control research
projects, including linear-parameter varying (LPV) control of
hypersonic re-entry vehicles, worst-case analysis of autonomous
satellite rendezvous, and flying qualities analysis of re-usable
launch vehicles. Supervised by Dr. Declan Bates, the student will work
with a team of researchers from the Control and Instrumentation
Research Group, including Dr. Emmanuel Prempain, Dr. Prathyush Menon
and Prof. Ian Postlethwaite. The student will also have the
opportunity to work closely with industrial control engineers from a
number of leading space companies, as well as research scientists from
the European Space Agency. This is a fantastic opportunity for a young
researcher to obtain direct experience of cutting-edge
control research in a number of European space programmes.

Candidates should have an outstanding academic record and have a
first-class Bachelors degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Aerospace
Engineering. The ideal candidate would also have a Masters degree in
Systems or Control theory, or Aerospace Engineering with a specialism
in flight control and dynamics.
Candidates should apply in the first instance by email to Dr. Declan
Bates (dgb3@le.ac.uk), attaching a detailed CV and the names of up to
three referees. It is expected that the student will start their
degree at Leicester in October 2008, and applications will
be accepted until the post is filled.