The CDT supports research across the field of topological design, working with researchers in every School in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and beyond. Here you can find out more information about our currently available projects.
Applications for cohort 5 in the CDT are now open. If you would like to apply for any of these projects, please complete the form that can be found on our application web page.
Listed below are a range of available projects. Please download the project proposal to find out more about the project. This list is far from exhaustive, and if you are interested in a particular area of topology or topological design, please contact the CDT to discuss this further with us.
Industrially Supported Projects
- 2 studentships funded by Toyota Europe and the EPSRC CDT in Topological Design in association with the Quantum Gravimetry team in the School of Physics and Astronomy. Please see the project outlines below. Please contact Dr Yu-Hung Lien, y.lien@bham.ac.uk, for further information and expressions of interest. These studentships will start in the 2022/23 academic year.
- "Understanding and improving the topography of additive manufactured implant surfaces" (Word). This studentships is jointly funded by the EPSRC CDT in Topological Design and Renishaw PLC. For more information, please contact Dr Sophie Cox, s.c.cox@bham.ac.uk, Centre for Custom Medical Devices, School of Chemical Engineering. This studentship will start in the first quarter of 2023.
- "Topology-enhanced lanthanide surfaces for luminescence detection" (Word). This project offers the opportunity to work with QinetiQ. For more information, please contact Prof. Zoe Pikramenou, z.pikramenou@bham.ac.uk, School of Chemistry.
- "Fermi surface topological transitions" (Word). This project offers the opportunity to work with Razerbill Instruments Ltd. For further information, please contact Dr Clifford Hicks, c.hicks@bham.ac.uk, School of Physics and Astronomy.
- "Topological analysis to understand emissions formation and transformation processes from fused deposition modelling additive manufacturing" (Word). This project offers the opportunity to work with Andaltec. For more information, please contact Dr Jose Herreros, j.herreros@bham.ac.uk, School of Engineering.
- "Net-zero topological engineering: development of compact energy storage devices for carbon consious living" (Word). This project offers the opportunity to work with Eskimo Ltd. For more information, please contact Dr Adriano Sciacovelli, a.sciacovelli@bham.ac.uk, School of Chemical Engineering.
- "Exploring topological states in 2-D magnetic materials" (Word). This project offers the opportunity to work with Park Systems Ltd. For more information, please contact Dr Lucy Clark, l.m.clark@bham.ac.uk, School of Chemistry.
- "Topological data analysis for predictive spatial signatures of cancer progression and treatment response" (Word). This project offers the opportunity to work with AstraZeneca. For further information, please contact Dr Fabian Spill, f.spill@bham.ac.uk, School of Mathematics.
- "Topological analysis of the socioeconomic and environmental impact of engineering design decisions" (Word). This project offers the opportunity to work with Autodesk. For further information, please contact Dr Lauren Thomas-Seale, l.e.j.thomas-seale@bham.ac.uk, School of Engineering.
EPSRC and UoB Funded Projects
Applications for studentships starting in Autumn 2023 are now open. Below is a sample list of projects available to students. Please contact us, if you would like to discuss other research areas that the CDT supports.
- "Topological optimisation of electromagnetic devices and structures" (Word), Dr Stephen Hanham, s.hanham@bham.ac.uk Emerging Devices and Technology Group, School of Engineering.
- "Topology in transient and turbulent multi-phase fluid flows" (Word), Dr Jason Stafford, j.stafford@bham.ac.uk, School of Engineering.
- "Knee joint arthroplasty: is topology and topological design industry's answer for personalised healthcare?" (Word), Dr Daniel Espino, d.m.espino@bham.ac.uk, Biomedical Engineering Group, School of Engineering.
- "The roles of nantopography and vibration in controlling long-term bacterial adhesion"(Word), Prof. Paula Mendes, p.m.mendes@bham.ac.uk, School of Chemical Engineering.
- "Foldamer-mediated topological assembly of polymer-based nanoparticles"(Word), Dr Maria Chiara Arno, m.c.arno@bham.ac.uk, ICGS, School of Chemistry.
- "Two-photon polymerized hydrogels 3D nano and microstructures for healthcare applications" (Word), Dr Ruchi Gupta, r.gupta.3@bham.ac.uk, Healthcare Technologies Institute and School of Chemistry.
- "Simulation-driven topology design of pneumatic shape-changing objects" (Word), Dr Hyunyoung Kim, h.kim.4@bham.ac.uk, Human-Centered Computing, School of Computer Science.
- "Topological design of novel metallo foldamer-protein hybrids for applications in light harvesting and luminescent imaging" (Word), Dr Sarah Pike, s.j.pike@bham.ac.uk, Pike Research Group, School of Chemistry.
- "Topological optimisation of 3D printable THz waveguides for on-chip applications" (Word), Dr Miguel Navarro-Cia, m.navarro-cia@bham.ac.uk, Metamaterials Group, School of Physics and Astronomy.
- "Coupling of light to vibration in quantum materials" (Word), Dr Rohit Chikkaraddy, r.chikkaraddy@bham.ac.uk, School of Physics and Astronomy.
- "Analysing the topological features of particle-induced turbulence through direct numerical simulations" (Word), Dr Bruno Fraga, b.fraga@bham.ac.uk, School of Engineering.
- "Topological design of anti-fouling and anti-microbial materials" (Word), Dr Nan Gao, n.gao@bham.ac.uk, School of Engineering.
- "Topological design in liquid-metal based High Frequency Devices and Sensors" (Word), Dr Yi Wang, y.wang.1@bham.ac.uk, School of Engineering.
- "How are the cytoskeleton and platelet surface proteins organised at the invaginated membrane system?" (Word), Dr Dirk-Peter Herten, d.herten@bham.ac.uk, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and School of Chemistry.
- "Analysis of research and clinical trial networks in lower and middle-income countries" (Word), Dr Fabian Spill, f.spill@bham.ac.uk, School of Mathematics.
- "Imaging the topology of proton therapy beams using topological proton-acoustic sensors" (Word), Dr James Guggenheim, j.a.guggenheim@bham.ac.uk, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences.
- "Strain tuning phonon topology in flexible organic crystals"(Word), Dr Adam Michalchuk, a.a.l.michalchuk@bham.ac.uk, School of Chemistry.
- "Metal-organic framework topology in nanofluids for energy-related applications" (Word), Dr Yueting Sun, y.sun.9@bham.ac.uk, School of Engineering.
- "Unravelling topological features of liquid-liquid phase transitions in network liquids" (Word), Dr Dwaipayan Chakrabarti, d.chakrabarti@bham.ac.uk, Chemistry and Topology, School of Chemistry.
- "Simulation-driven topology design of pneumatic shape-changing objects" (Word), Dr Hyunyoung Kim, h.kim.4@bham.ac.uk, Human-Centered Computing Group, School of Computer Science.
If you are interested in any of these projects, please contact the supervisor involved or the CDT at cdt-topologicaldesign@contacts.bham.ac.uk.