PhD opportunities

How to apply

Applications are made via the 'Apply' link on the University of Edinburgh degree finder. Once registered for the Applicant Hub, you can track your application there. There is more information on the degree finder page, but your application will need to contain a research proposal, the basis of which will likely be one of the projects listed below or one of your own creation (see below for more information).

Application Process

You should always reach out to an EPCC member of staff and get their agreement to be your supervisor before applying for an EPCC PhD. Applications which do not have this supervisor backing are unlikely to be successful. You can do this by e-mailing the supervisor directly.

Once your application has been received and all relevant documents have been checked, applicants will be invited to interview (often remote, but in-person is also possible) with the potential supervisor and at least one other member of staff.

Potential research topics

Please contact phd@epcc.ed.ac.uk for more information on any projects listed below. Projects are grouped by general subject area.

HPC

Data Assimilation for Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics
Dr Joseph O’Connor

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Scalable Dynamic Deployment of Data-Flow Applications in Heterogeneous Environments through AI-Driven Optimization
Dr Rosa Filgueira

Ontology-Guided Explainable AI for Enhancing Software Repository Comprehension
Dr Rosa Filgueira

Intelligent Tutor System (ITS) for Children with Autism using Generative AI
Dr Charaka Palansuriya

Advancing Software Understanding and Composition through Machine Learning-driven Semantic Analysis
Dr Rosa Filgueira

Software Sustainability

Quantification of the environmental footprint of research software to help the community achieve Net Zero
Dr Kirsty Pringle

Proposing a project

We also welcome proposals in one of EPCC's areas of research interest. Before applying we would expect an applicant to contact a potential supervisor to discuss a draft proposal. Please contact phd@epcc.ed.ac.uk if you are unsure who would be the best potential supervisor to contact.

The University has guidance available on writing a research proposal.

Partnership with industry

Like EPCC's Research Collaborations with industry, a collaborative PhD project with an industrial partner is possible. There are various ways this can work so please contact phd@epcc.ed.ac.uk and/or any particular potential supervisor if you would like to discuss options.