Applications are invited for the above PhD studentship within the Design School at Loughborough University, from applicants to start in January 2014.

Road Traffic Accidents are the leading cause of severe injuries and accidental death worldwide. The number of fatalities and injury severities are greater in developing countries. Globally, there are 1.25 million fatalities from road traffic accidents every year. Safety of vehicles, infrastructure, and restraint systems continue to pose challenges for researchers and the manufacturing industry. A number of opportunities exist which can be tailored to the research interests and background of the candidate. A wide range of problems need to be investigated to find solutions for diverse road users. Potential research topics may include safety of vulnerable occupants, such as children, pregnant women and ageing population as well as safety in a wide range of vehicles from bicycles to busses. Safety systems based on genetic characteristics of ethnic groups can also be an important research topic as anthropometric variances may play a crucial role in design for transport safety.

Students must have a first or upper second class academic qualification in a design or engineering related discipline, or a relevant Masters qualification.

The studentship provides a tax free stipend of £13,726 per annum for a period of three years plus tuition fees at the UK/EU rate. Due to funding restrictions, the studentships are open to UK and EU applicants only. Non UK applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements, details available here: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/englang/index.htm 

Information about Loughborough Design School can be found at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/lds/.  As part of a large, growing research community within the School, the successful candidate will also benefit from being a member of the University’s Graduate School and their extensive and targeted skills training for research students.

Initial enquiries about the research topics should be made to Professor Serpil Acar B.S.Acar@Lboro.ac.uk or +44 1509 63 57 00. Further details about the application process can be foud by clicking the Apply link below.

Please quote the following reference when applying: BSA/LDS2013-14

Deadline for applications: Monday 11^th November 2013

However, early application is strongly encouraged.