PhD Studentship: Symbiotic Intelligent Electrified Vehicle Systems for Sustainable Transport

The UK Energy Research Centre; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in Birmingham is offering a PhD Studentship focused on Symbiotic Intelligent Electrified Vehicle Systems for Sustainable Transport. The project aims to enhance sustainability in urban environments through AI-driven strategies for electric and autonomous vehicles. Candidates should have a First-class degree in a relevant field and possess strong research potential. This opportunity includes funding through the EPSRC Doctoral Training Programme, covering full tuition fees and a standard UKRI stipend.

Qualifications

• Strong academic performance and research potential are essential.
• Experience in modelling and simulation (MATLAB/Simulink, Python) preferred.
• Demonstrated interest in high-impact, interdisciplinary research.

Responsibilities

• Investigate how next-generation electric and autonomous vehicles can enhance sustainability.
• Design AI-driven control and energy management frameworks.
• Develop algorithms for ecological sensing, adaptive motion planning, and energy optimisation.

Skills

Modelling and simulation (MATLAB/Simulink, Python)

Energy systems

Intelligent control methods

Good communication

Teamwork

Motivation for high-impact research

Education

First-class degree in Mechanical, Automotive, Powertrain, or Control Engineering

Job description

PhD Studentship: Symbiotic Intelligent Electrified Vehicle Systems for Sustainable Transport

University of Birmingham – Department of Mechanical Engineering

Qualification Type:

Qualification Type: PhD

Location:

Location: Birmingham

Funding for:

Funding for: UK Students, EU Students, International Students

Funding amount:

Funding amount: UKRI stipend

Hours:

Hours: Full Time

Placed On:

Placed On: 19th November 2025

Closes:

Closes: 31st December 2025

Project Description:

This EPSRC-funded PhD project will investigate how next-generation electric and autonomous vehicles can operate as symbiotic agents within the urban ecosystem—intelligently adapting their energy use, control strategies, and collective behaviours to enhance sustainability. The research aims to design AI-driven control and energy management frameworks that enable self-organising, cooperative operation among connected electrified vehicles such as airport trailers, delivery pods, or urban mobility fleets.

Using multi-agent systems, reinforcement learning, and digital-twin technologies, the project will develop algorithms for ecological sensing, adaptive motion planning, and energy optimisation under real-world constraints. Scaled experiments and high-fidelity simulations will validate system performance and demonstrate measurable reductions in energy consumption and emissions.

The successful candidate will join the Birmingham CASE Automotive Research Group—one of the UK’s leading centres in vehicle dynamics, control, and electrification—benefiting from industrial collaborations, advanced testing facilities, and a strong interdisciplinary environment.

Candidate Requirements:

Applicants should hold a First-class (or equivalent) degree in Mechanical, Automotive, Powertrain, or Control Engineering, or a closely related discipline. Strong academic performance and research potential are essential.

The selection will follow EPSRC criteria, with academic qualifications and potential (70%) and research proposal quality (30%) as the main weighting factors, while considering Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) and alternative routes into research.

Desirable skills include experience in modelling and simulation (MATLAB/Simulink, Python), energy systems, and intelligent control methods. Applicants should demonstrate good communication, teamwork, and motivation for high-impact, interdisciplinary research aligned with the EPSRC remit.

Funding notes:

The project is supported by the EPSRC Doctoral Training Programme (DTP), offering one home and one overseas 3.5-year studentship covering full tuition fees and a standard UKRI stipend.