Project details
A rare opportunity for a mechanical/materials graduate engineer to advance the study of wild birds at a thriving modern university and alongside an international market leader in the design and manufacture of bird tracking devices, in the lovely south coast county of Dorset.
This is an engineering PhD with an industrial partner and cross-disciplinary academic support. You will develop your own research project, working within a private company encompassing the disparate fields of wildlife biology and electronics/mechanical engineering, with access to first class academics and resources in Engineering and Life Sciences Departments at Bournemouth University.
Aims
The challenge of this PhD is to develop a novel tracking tag antenna using advanced materials, within environmental and welfare constraints of the application - a device attached to a free-living bird. Typically, external ‘whip’ antennas are used in bird tags, and they must be light-weight yet virtually unbreakable, able to survive extreme high and low temperatures, marine conditions, constant flexing and possible abuse from the bird. The new antenna design should be universal and scalable for use on birds from Wrens to Ostriches, and it must have minimal impact on the bird, whose welfare is paramount.
Existing bird tag antennas are primitive in their design and are typically made from multi-stranded steel cables covered with a heatshrink polymer. Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) wire (~0.2mm diameter), a super-elastic alloy, is used for antennas on smaller tags, but is not sufficiently robust to survive on larger birds, and thicker NiTi wire is too stiff and more prone to fatigue. This research opportunity is to develop bird tag antennas with the integration of advanced materials and manufacturing methods available to the research team at Bournemouth University. Potential avenues of research may include combining polymers to provide structure, with advanced materials such as NiTi, metamaterials or Graphene providing the necessary conductive element.
Although the radio-frequency (RF) electronics performance of an antenna is important to its function, the focus of this project is not antenna electronics. The aim is to optimise physical and mechanical properties of an antenna for a highly-specific and unusual application. The industrial partner (Lotek) will provide electronic/RF engineering support to ensure that any proposed novel antenna meets signal transmission requirements.
Facilities and guidance
The PhD candidate will be able to work at both partner locations – Lotek in Wareham or Bournemouth University. Initially it is expected that the student will be based mainly in Lotek.
Lotek will provide background information about the application, details of the requirements for a tag antenna and purpose-built test equipment for testing antenna designs. Lotek engineers and biologists will be keen to discuss practical ideas for antennas to meet electronic and bird welfare criteria. Lotek has manufacturing facilities for conventional tag antennas and could (depending on cost) tool-up for use of advanced materials.
At the Department of Design and Engineering at Bournemouth University, the I2AM-BirD project stands at the intersection of cutting-edge expertise and resources in advanced materials engineering. Our academics are dedicated to harnessing the power of innovation in materials to revolutionise bird-tracking tag antenna design. Drawing upon our comprehensive design and testing resources, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. In collaboration with academics from the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, we are ensuring that our advancements in bird-tracking technology have real-world impact and that we are bridging the gap between technological innovation and practical application. Their knowledge in avian research is invaluable, guiding us towards creating devices that not only embody excellence in engineering but also seamlessly integrate into the intricacies of avian behaviour and ecology. Through this multidisciplinary collaboration, we are poised to shape a new era of bird-tracking technology that is both scientifically rigorous and technologically advanced.
View full project description (pdf 274kb)
The closing date for applications is 31 October 2023.
Supervisors
Meet Diogo Montalvão, an Associate Professor in Structural Dynamics who started his career in the Rolling Stock industry and who is making a difference in the world of Engineering and Education. He is currently the Head of Department of Design & Engineering at Bournemouth University, where he leads a team of talented researchers and lecturers. Diogo combines his technical skills with his passion for education, industrial impact, and social service. He is a leader, a researcher, an educator, and a communicator. He is someone you should definitely get in touch with when developing your next Engineering project.
Diogo has a remarkable track record of research excellence and innovation. He has been involved in several funded projects in Portugal and the UK, covering topics such as fatigue, dynamics, structural health monitoring, and advanced materials. His latest project, ADDISONIC, is a game-changing initiative that aims to address some of the UNs Strategic Development Goals through novel solutions for accelerated fatigue testing of materials. This project received £268k funding from Research England and has attracted collaborations from local and international partners.
Diogo is also a prolific author and editor. He has published more than 80 papers in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences, as well as a book chapter on signal processing. He has an h-index of 17 according to Google Scholar, which reflects his impact and influence in his field. He has been serving as an editorial board member for several journals, such as Heliyon (Elsevier) and Materials (MDPI), where he contributes to the dissemination and quality assurance of scientific knowledge.
Diogo is not only a researcher, but also a mentor and a passionate educator who believes in the power of integrating diverse concepts and perspectives. He has been an External Examiner for various Universities in the UK, such as the University of Chichester and the University of the West of England (Bristol). He has also led/co-led new programme validations, full programme reviews, and professional bodies’ accreditations, to ensure high standards of education and employability for graduates. He is passionate about promoting STEM activities to inspire the next generation of engineers, especially among females, low participating neighbourhoods, and minorities. He organises Masterclasses with the Royal Institution, chairs the Wessex Region IMechE Design Challenge Competition, and participates in the DEMC (Dorset Engineering and Manufacturing Cluster) Steering Group Committee.
Diogo is also a columnist for the 'Observador', one of the most prestigious newspapers in Portugal. He writes about various subjects related to Energy and Education, sharing his insights and opinions with a wide audience.
This broad range of experience contributed to the success in his roles, which achievements were already recognised with a number of prizes and awards.
Diogo Montalvao is an enthusiastic and inspiring Mechanical Engineer who strives to make a positive impact in the world through his work in academia, industry, and society. He is always keen to learn new things and challenge himself.
Funding
A fully-funded Studentship includes a maintenance grant of £18,622 per year to contribute towards living expenses during the course of your research, as well as a fee waiver for 36 months.
Associated costs, such as for fieldwork and conference attendance, will also be met under the Studentship.
Academic Support
The Research Development Programme, developed by the Doctoral College in line with the Researcher Development Framework (Vitae).
An added benefit is the opportunity to meet researchers from other academic schools at BU through the activities of the Doctoral College and benefit from their experiences, skills, and perspectives.
Full entry requirements
The BU PhD and MRes Studentships are open to UK, EU and International students.
Candidates for a PhD Studentship should demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a PhD in 4 years and must demonstrate:
- Outstanding academic potential as measured normally by either a 1st class honours degree (or equivalent Grade Point Average (GPA) or a Master’s degree with distinction or equivalent
- An IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 minimum (with a minimum 6.0 in each component, or equivalent) for candidates for whom English is not their first language and this must be evidenced at point of application.
In addition to satisfying minimum entry criteria, BU will look closely at the qualities, skills and background of each candidate and what they can bring to their chosen research project in order to ensure successful completion.
Applicants will be asked to submit an online application form and a proposal (approximately 1500 words) outlining their understanding of the project for which they are applying, the approach they would envisage taking and what qualities they will bring to the research community.
Person Specification
You must be/have:
- Good degree or equivalent in related discipline
- Fascinated by materials engineering research and user experience.
- Experience of research design and a sound understanding of and ability to apply appropriate research methodologies.
- Expertise in relevant data analytical tools
- An innovative and creative thinker.
- Able to get on well with people with a range of different personalities.
- Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
Ideally, you should be:
- Familiar with CAD/CAE, preferably in Solidworks/ANSYS
- Ability to design and make simple electronic circuits
- Ability to communicate well at all levels with external organisations
- Interested in the natural world, especially birds.
- During the PhD you will:
- Develop in-depth knowledge of advanced materials.
- Learn standard test methods, and develop new ones specific to this application.
- Learn about the operation of an electronic equipment manufacturing company, from product engineering/design through manufacturing to the interface with customers.
- Learn about life as an academic engineer involved in original research.
- Empower your career potential by solving complex problems and making your mark on the World through interdisciplinary research.
Please note:
- current BU Doctoral students are not eligible to apply for a Studentship
- current MRes/MPhil students can apply, subject to satisfactory completion of their Research Degree prior to being able to take up the award
- PhD Studentships cannot be used to support BU staff to complete doctoral programmes.
International entry requirements
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:
IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 (with a minimum 6.0 in each component) or equivalent.
View further information about our English language requirements.
A number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes are offered through our partner institution, Bournemouth University International College, and will get you ready for study at BU at the appropriate level.
You can also find further details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our postgraduate entry requirements page.
How to apply
Click the green ‘Apply now’ button at the top of the page and complete the online application form. You can find further guidance about applying for a postgraduate research degree in our Postgraduate Research section.
The closing date for applications 31 October 2023.
Careers
A research degree can open new career opportunities in commercial research and development, consultancy, or could lead you to starting your own business. You may alternatively consider a career in academia. You may wish to undertake research to contribute to your knowledge of a specialist subject, or develop your employability by enhancing your skills in project management and analysis.
