PhD programme in Wearable Robotics for Mobility and Independence

An opportunity to apply for a funded full-time PhD in the College of Arts, Technology and Environment, UWE Bristol.

The studentship will be funded by VIVO Hub project (UKRI / EPSRC):

Ref: 2627-OCT-CATE01

The expected start date of this studentship is 01 October 2026

The closing date for applications is 15 March 2026. 

Studentship Details

This PhD project is part of the VIVO Hub for Enhanced Independent Living, a £14 million UKRI-funded programme aiming to develop next-generation digital and robotic technologies to support the health, mobility, and independence of older adults and people with disabilities.

This specific project will focus on the development, integration, and staged real-world validation of wearable assistive technologies. The successful candidate will explore how assistive devices perform outside the lab, how they are perceived and accepted by users, and how data from real-world deployments can inform the design of personalised support strategies.

You will work closely with engineers, clinicians, and end users to:

• Co-design human-in-the-loop studies using wearable technologies.
• Test prototypes in laboratory, smart homes, and real-life settings.
• Analyse biomechanical, physiological, and user feedback using machine learning and control engineering methods.

The project will be hosted at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), the UK’s largest academic centre for robotics research, with access to world-class facilities for robotic design, human–robot interaction, wearable sensing, and clinical trials.

The PhD will be supervised by Prof. Marcela Munera and Prof. Carlos A. Cifuentes (UWE Bristol / BRL) and will involve collaboration with other VIVO partners at the Universities of Bristol, Strathclyde, Imperial College London, and University College London.

For an informal discussion about the studentship, please email marcela.munera@uwe.ac.uk

Funding details

The studentship is available from 01 October 2026 for a period of 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory progress and includes a tax exempt stipend, which is currently £20,780 per annum for the 25/26 academic year

Standard EPSRC RTSG - £4900 over 3.5 years

Eligibility

Applicants must have a master’s degree in Robotics, Biomedical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related. Exceptional candidates with a first-class undergraduate degree may also be considered.

Required skills:

• Strong programming skills (ROS, Python, C++).
• Experience with wearable sensing or assistive robotics.
• Understanding of control systems, real-time monitoring, or gait analysis.
• Scientific writing (peer-reviewed papers, technical reports).

Desirable skills:

• Experience with soft robotics, motion capture, or biomechanical modelling.
• Clear interest in user-centred design and applied healthcare research.
• Familiarity with machine learning for time-series or physiological data.

International applicants are welcome but should ensure they meet the English language requirement: UWE Profile E.

How to apply

Please submit your application online. 

Supporting documentation: you will need to upload your research proposal:

• Cover letter detailing your background, research interests, and alignment with the project (required).
• Research proposal (max 2 pages) outlining how your expertise could contribute to the aims of the project (required).
• Full academic transcripts and degree certificates.
• Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable).

References: you will need to provide details of two referees as part of your application.

Closing date: 15 March 2026.

Further Information

It is expected that interviews will take place on weeks commencing April. If you have not heard from us by the end May, we thank you for your application but on this occasion you have not been successful.

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