phd engineering bristol

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Electrical and Electronic Engineering PhD

University of bristol, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Electronic Engineering (General) Electrical Engineering (General)

Course type

• School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering

The department has a strong research profile, with 30 academic staff, more than 60 postgraduate research students and 30 full-time research assistants contributing to numerous research projects. The quality of our research is recognised nationally and internationally.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

PhD applicants must hold/achieve a minimum of a Master degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline. Applicants without a masters qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree.

Electronic Engineering MSc

University of bedfordshire, electronic engineering with project management msc, msc electrical and electronic engineering, sheffield hallam university, msc electrical and electronic engineering (work experience), phd/mphil electrical and electronic engineering, city, university of london.

Faculty of Engineering

Cosem cdt student's research published in international journal.

Jan Maurycy Uszko

PhD student Jan Maurycy Uszko has had his research published in gold open access journal Nanoscale Advances.

Jan Maurycy Uszko, a PhD student in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Composites Science, Engineering and Manufacturing , has published a cover article in Nanoscale Advances ( doi.org/10.1039/D3NA01110K ), alongside supervisors from Bristol Composites Institute and the School of Chemistry . The study was also featured in Nature Research Highlights ( doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00316-0 ), and an article in Chemistry World .

The research sought to discover why fulminating gold produces a purple cloud when it detonates. Fulminating gold, the first high explosive material, was discovered by alchemists more than 400 years ago. It fascinated scientists through the ages and they studied it intensively. But why, when it detonates, does it produce a purple cloud?

Jan explained: “Our paper proves for the first time that the colouration of the smoke is a result of heterogeneous spherical gold nanoparticles being created in the detonation. The heat and rapidity of the creation gives the particles some interesting properties.”

Jan shared the findings on a poster at the 2024 Bristol Composites Institute Doctoral Research Symposium , where he won the student vote for best poster. Delegates at the Symposium were fascinated by the research and findings.

Jan concluded: “The research opens up further possibilities which are currently being investigated.”

More Bristol Composites Institute news.

Return to Bristol Composites Institute homepage.

Return to EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Composites Science, Engineering and Manufacturing homepage.

Further information

The CoSEM CDT (established in 2019) has evolved from the highly successful and established ACCIS CDT (2014-2024) to address exciting doctoral training opportunities for multidisciplinary composite materials engineering and manufacture.

PhD and postgraduate research opportunities in the College of Arts, Environment and Technology

Join a thriving and expanding postgraduate research community.

What are my study options?

Studentships.

Our offered studentships are in specific subject areas required by industry, and occasionally the project itself will already be defined. Your tuition fees and living expenses are usually covered for three years and applications need to be submitted by a set deadline. 

Self-funded opportunities

If you already know what you want to study (and it fits within one of our areas of expertise), then you have the choice to self-fund your studies, providing more flexibility in what it is you research. Some of our current students are sponsored by their employers, so this can be another option. 

Our research expertise

We welcome applications for full and part-time PhD study in topics that reflect and enhance the research interests of the University.

Air Quality Management Resource Centre

Find out about expertise and teaching at the Air Quality Management Resource Centre , which undertakes a continuous and extensive programme of research around air quality and carbon management.

For further information about AQMRC research opportunities, please email AQMRC ( [email protected] ).

Bristol Centre for Linguistics

The current research within the Bristol Centre for Linguistics (BCL)  comprises four main strands and our researchers explore a variety of disciplines of language research – from psycholinguistics to sociolinguistics, looking at the language of the past, to the here and now, investigating writing, speech and the nonverbal.

For further information about BCL postgraduate research opportunities, please contact [email protected] .

Bristol Photography Research Group

Find out more about postgraduate opportunities at Bristol Photography Research Group , a multidisciplinary network that is dedicated to exploring a broad understanding of photographic practices and the complex role photography plays in contemporary society.

For further information about research opportunities, please email John House  ( [email protected] ).

Bristol Robotics Laboratory

Find out more about postgraduate opportunities at Bristol Robotics Laboratory , the most comprehensive academic centre for multi-disciplinary robotics research in the UK. BRL is a collaborative partnership between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol.

For further information about research opportunities, please email BRL ( [email protected] ).

Centre for Architecture and Built Environment Research

View all our postgraduate opportunities in the Centre for Architecture and Built Environment Research  across a range of built environment themes.

For further information about CABER research opportunities, please contact Professor Lamine Mahdjoubi  ( [email protected] ).

Centre for Machine Vision

Find out more about the Centre for Machine Vision . Part of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), we solve real-world practical computer vision problems. Our particular excellence lies in 3D reconstruction and surface inspection.

For further information about research opportunities, please email Professor Lyndon Smith  ( [email protected] ).

Centre For Print Research

The Centre For Print Research (CFPR) is a unique, multidisciplinary research centre that finds creative solutions for the future of printmaking.

For further information about postgraduate research opportunities, please email [email protected] .

Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments

View all our postgraduate opportunities in the Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments . Join projects which are focused on creating places that are environmentally sustainable, socially just and economically competitive.

For further information about SPE research opportunities, please email Danielle Sinnett  ( [email protected] ).

Centre for Transport and Society

View all our postgraduate opportunities in the Centre for Transport and Society  across our seven strategic theme areas, from promoting low carbon travel to supporting sustainable mobility strategies.

For further information about CTS research opportunities, please email Professor Graham Parkhurst  ( [email protected] ).

Centre for Water, Communities and Resilience

View all our postgraduate opportunities in the Centre for Water, Communities and Resilience . Join established inter-disciplinary teams working on different national and international water security initiatives at UWE Bristol.

For further information about CWCR research opportunities, please email Professor Lindsey McEwen  ( [email protected] ).

Computer Science Research Centre

Find out more about the Computer Science Research Centre  and our research activities that cover many of the facets of 21st century computer science, from artificial intelligence to graphene sensors for Internet of Things applications.

For further information about research opportunities, please email Professor Larry Bull  ( [email protected] ).

Creative Technologies Laboratory

Find out more about the Creative Technologies Laboratory , an interdisciplinary research group that spans and intersects computer science and the creative arts, aiming to create and evaluate seamless interfaces between people and technology.

For further information about research opportunities, please email Dr Tom Mitchell  ( [email protected] ).

Critical Race and Culture Research Network

The Critical Race and Culture Research Network brings together scholars, students, alumni and independent researchers who are engaged in exploring questions relating to race and culture within their discipline areas.

For further information about postgraduate research opportunities, please email Professor Shawn Sobers ( [email protected] ).

Digital Cultures Research Centre

Find out about expertise and teaching at the Digital Cultures Research Centre , an open and collaborative network of critical thinkers and doers based at UWE Bristol who interrogate, articulate and create practical approaches to responsible technological futures.

For further information about DCRC postgraduate research opportunities, please email DCRC ( [email protected] ).

Document and Location Research Group

The Document and Location Research Group  investigates how our understanding of place is directly formed through how locations are recorded and subsequently narrated by different disciplines, and how the identity of place is created through its representation. 

For more information on postgraduate opportunities, please contact Simon Morrissey ( [email protected] ).

Engineering Modelling and Simulation Group

Find out more about the Engineering, Modelling and Simulation Group , which brings academics and researchers together to carry out high-quality research in key engineering fields by applying modern and advanced modelling and simulation techniques.

For further information about research opportunities, please email Professor Yufeng Yao  ( [email protected] ).

Global and Transnational History Group

The Global and Transnational History Group  consists of historians conducting research across a broad geographic span, largely in the modern period.

For further information about postgraduate research opportunities, please email Dr Mike Richards ( [email protected] ).

Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology

Find out more about the Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology , which collaborates within industry and academia to develop novel bio-sensing technologies together.

For further information about research opportunities, please email Associate Professor Tim Cox  ( [email protected] ).

Mathematics and Statistics Research Group

Find out more about the Mathematics and Statistics Research Group , which aims to deliver internationally excellent mathematics research, including real-world impact, develop research collaboration, apply its research to outstanding learning and generate income.

For further information about research opportunities, please email Dr Vadim Zverovich  ( [email protected] ).

Moving Image Research Group

Read more about the Moving Image Research Group , which focuses on historical, theoretical and practice-based research into film cultures, production and education.

For more information on postgraduate opportunities, please contact  Dr Mark Bould  ( [email protected] ) or  Dr Charlotte Crofts  ( [email protected] ).

Regional History Centre

The Regional History Centre  promotes research about the history of Britain's South Western counties and in the understanding of regionalism as a dynamic force in the shaping of the domestic and international past.

For further information about postgraduate research opportunities, please email Professor Steve Poole ( [email protected] ).

Robotic Engineering And Computing for Healthcare

Find out more about Robotics Engineering And Computing for Healthcare , which researches robotics technologies, intelligent sensors and machine learning to realise person-focused innovative healthcare solutions.

For further information about research opportunities, please email Dr David Western  ( [email protected] ).

Science Communication Unit

Find out more about postgraduate research opportunities at the Science Communication Unit , which is internationally renowned for its diverse and innovative activities, designed to engage the public with science.

For further information about research opportunities, please email SCU ( [email protected] ).

Unconventional Computing Group

Find out more about the Unconventional Computing Group , which employs complex dynamics in physical, chemical and biological media to design novel computational techniques, architectures and working prototypes of non-linear media-based computers.

For further information about Unconventional Computing Group research opportunities, please email  Professor Andrew Adamatzky  ( [email protected] ).

Visual Culture Research Group

The  Visual Culture Research Group  is a group of cross-disciplinary art and design practitioners, historians and theorists interested in visuality and visual culture.

For further information about postgraduate research opportunities, please email Dr Jenny Rintoul ( [email protected] .

WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments

The  WHO Collaborating Centre  promotes healthy and sustainable settlements through research, knowledge exchange and publications, working closely with municipalities, planning consultancies and health authorities in the UK as well as the wider WHO European Healthy Cities network.

For further information about postgraduate research opportunities, please email Dr Michael Buser ( [email protected] ).

What funding support is available?

Find out more about fees and funding  for PhDs and postgraduate opportunities from the UWE Bristol Doctoral Academy.

Explore fees and funding

How to apply

To apply, please contact one of the relevant Centre contacts from the drop down list above, or visit the how to apply  section of the UWE Bristol Doctoral Academy.

Support during your degree

Support from the Doctoral Academy available to postgraduate researchers at UWE Bristol, including useful contacts.

Skills development for postgraduate researchers

UWE Bristol offers a comprehensive range of workshops which aim to help you  complete your doctorate on time, feel part of UWE Bristol’s researcher community and consider your postdoctoral options.

Our facilities

Architecture

Spaces and facilities to inspire tomorrow's architecture.

Art and Design

Develop your skills in traditional and contemporary crafts, processes and digital technologies.

Computer Science and Creative Technologies

Collaborate, create and turn ideas into reality in labs designed to emulate a real-world software development environment.

Construction, Property and Surveying

Develop and hone your practical skills with the support of experts using the latest industry-standard equipment.

Design studios

Our state-of-the-art Design Studios at Bower Ashton are helping to shape the future of the creative industries.

Drama, Acting and Music

Make the most of exciting facilities at Bower Ashton Studios, Frenchay Campus, Arnolfini (Bristol's International Centre for Contemporary Arts) and our Centre for Music.

Engineering

Be in good company with Rolls Royce, Airbus and others, as you build your engineering skill-set at UWE Bristol.

English, History and Writing

Take a virtual tour of our creative teaching spaces, such as our dedicated Resource Centre or S Block Atrium.

You can access facilities across the whole of Bower Ashton Campus whilst studying fashion, exploring fabrication, print and digital design to produce incredible work.

Filmmaking, Animation and Photography

Get skilled, practiced and inspired in one of the UK's hottest spots for animation, filmmaking and photography. Whether you're inspired by the BBC or Aardman, find facilities to match your creativity at UWE Bristol.

Geography and Environmental Management facilities

Enjoy first-class facilities including specialist laboratories, social learning spaces and computer laboratories equipped with the latest professional software.

Journalism and Media

Passionate about discovering the truth and telling the world about it? From newsroom and radio labs to mobile media on the go, gain the craft and master the tools to get your stories out there.

Immerse yourself in collaborative, practical skill-building workshops, model-making facilities, dedicated project room, cartographic resource centre.

You may also be interested in

Research in the School of Architecture and Environment

Our extensive programme of research and consultancy combines academic excellence and policy relevance, and holds a well-established national and international reputation.

Research in the School of Arts

Research in the School of Arts maintains our established reputation, nationally and internationally, across a range of disciplines.

Research in the School of Computing and Creative Technologies

Our research covers a wide range of subjects within the fields of computer science, computer systems and information systems.

Research in the School of Engineering

Our research applies novel engineering, statistical and mathematical techniques to solve problems of direct relevance to industry, society and the environment.

Georgia Tech to Offer Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, New Minor

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents has approved a new Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Ph.D. Program at Georgia Tech.

The interdisciplinary degree is a joint effort across the Colleges of Sciences , Computing , and Engineering . The program expects to enroll its first graduate students in Fall 2025, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The Institute Curriculum Committee has also approved a new Minor in Neuroscience , set to become available in the Georgia Tech 2024-2025 Catalog .

B.S. in Neuroscience

The Ph.D. and Minor offerings build on the recently launched Neuro Next Initiative in Research , and the established Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience , respectively.

Approved by the Board of Regents in 2017, the interdisciplinary B.S. in Neuroscience degree in the College of Sciences enrolled more than 400 undergraduate students in 2022, and has been  the fastest growing undergraduate major at Georgia Tech.

The B.S. in Neuroscience is also key to a strong ecosystem of undergraduate neuroscience education across the state, which includes peer programs at Mercer University, Augusta University, Georgia State University, Agnes Scott College, and Emory University.

Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology

The new doctoral degree will provide a path for the rapidly growing pipeline of in-state neuroscience undergraduate students and young alumni — while also welcoming a wider slate of graduate researchers to campus.

The Ph.D. Program’s mission is focused on educating students to advance the field of neuroscience through an interdisciplinary approach, with scientists and engineers of diverse backgrounds — ultimately integrating neuroscience research and technological development to study all levels of nervous system function.

Biological Sciences Professor Lewis A. Wheaton , who chaired the Ph.D. Program Planning Committee, shares that a cohort model will fuse “experimental and quantitative skill development, creating opportunities for students to work in science and engineering labs to promote collaborations, while also fostering a program and community that’s unique to the state and against national peer offerings.”

Expanding innovation — and impact

Wheaton explains that the new Ph.D. aims to equip graduates for a wide range of employment opportunities and growing specializations, including computational neuroscience, neurorehabilitation, cultural and social neuroscience, neuroimaging, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, developmental neuroscience, and neurolinguistics.

The new degree will also help meet the country’s growing demand for a neuro-centric workforce. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for medical scientists (including neuroscientists) tracked around 13% between 2012 and 2022, faster than the average for all tracked occupations.

Wheaton, who also serves as director of the Cognitive Motor Control Lab and director of the Center for Promoting Inclusion and Equity in the Sciences (C-PIES) at Georgia Tech, adds that the program will equip neuroscientists to conduct research that can significantly improve lives.

Seeking students

The Planning Committee anticipates a tentative February 1, 2025 application deadline for Fall 2025 enrollments — and encourages students with the following interests to learn more and apply in the coming school year:

• Developing deeper quantitative, computing and/or engineering skills to make scientific discoveries that support innovations in neuroscience
• A clear, comprehensive understanding of the nervous system at all scales from molecular to systems
• Understanding how to use and innovate new tools and approaches to investigate the nervous system at all levels
• Becoming uniquely qualified to translate knowledge across neuroscience and related disciplines to create new knowledge in their professional pursuits

Director search

The participating Colleges will soon conduct a search for a program director , engaging a tenured member of the Georgia Tech faculty to serve as the new program’s administrator. A graduate program committee composed of five faculty members and mentors across the Colleges of Sciences, Computing, and Engineering, will also be created.  

During their April 2024 meeting, Regents also announced budget approvals and tuition changes for Georgia's 26 member institutions.

The Ph.D. Program Planning Committee included the following faculty:

• Lewis Wheaton (Committee Chair, Biological Sciences)
• Constantine Dovrolis (Computer Science)
• Christopher Rozell (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
• Eric Schumacher (Psychology)
• Garrett Stanley (Biomedical Engineering)
• David Collard (College of Sciences Office of the Dean)

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Contact Professor Lewis Wheaton , Planning Committee Chair
• Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience
• Minor in Neuroscience
• Georgia Tech Neuro and Neuro Next

Press Contact: Jess Hunt-Ralston Director of Communications College of Sciences at Georgia Tech

Neuro Next Initiative:

Sarah Peterson Program Manager GT Neuro

Audra Davidson Research Communications Program Manager Neuro Next Initiative at Georgia Tech

Related links

News room topics.

A blueprint for training graduate students at the intersection of AI and materials science

May 1, 2024

By Emily Ayshford

Related content

• AIMEMS program information
• Training graduate students to tackle sustainability issues across disciplines
• New research unites quantum engineering and artificial intelligence
• New system boosts efficiency of quantum error correction

Creating a more sustainable future will increasingly rely on the tools of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

But training leaders who can guide us into this future — by using AI to discover and design new materials for more efficient batteries, for example — requires a new educational approach.

A University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering graduate training program, called AI-enabled Molecular Engineering of Materials and Systems for Sustainability (AIMEMS), aims to do just that.

For the past several years, AIMEMS has trained more than 16 graduate students on both the tools of AI and machine learning and the importance of interdisciplinarity collaboration, communication, and outreach.

The program’s unique approach — giving each graduate student a mentor from UChicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and industry, as well as developing new courses and outreach programs — has been so successful that those involved think it could be a blueprint for integrating AI across disciplines. ( Read about three student experiences here .)

Together with similar programs from Duke University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, AIMEMS faculty and staff wrote a Focus paper for the journal Science Advances , detailing their approach and successes.

“Adoption of AI and machine learning in scientific domains has been slow, and the limiting factor is the workforce,” said Prof. Juan de Pablo , executive vice president for science, innovation, national laboratories and global initiatives, and PI of the grant that funds the program. “We see this as an incredible opportunity to teach graduate students how to break down department siloes and collaborate across disciplines to accelerate the discovery and design of materials for sustainability. It’s an approach that can be applicable to many fields.”

Breaking down silos

The program focuses on the field of materials informatics, which integrates AI/machine learning and computational methodologies with materials science for rapid materials discovery, understanding, and design. Materials informatics has the potential to affect a wide range of fields, including batteries, water, catalysts, and nanomedicine.

But reaching that potential will require scientists and engineers to have both the technical skills of data analytics and AI/machine learning along with the domain-specific knowledge of materials science. They must also learn to work across disciplines, communicate their research, and provide outreach to the next generation of potential scientists.

Since 2021, AIMEMS, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Research Traineeship program, has recruited three cohorts of the program to focus their education and efforts toward the wide-ranging issue of sustainability. Graduate students from across molecular engineering, computer science, physical science, and social science have undergone boot camps to learn new technical skills and taken new courses on advanced materials characterization and AI/machine learning.

Along the way, each student has had three mentors: a UChicago faculty member, a scientist from Argonne, and an industry professional. These mentors guide graduate students on research, professional development, teamwork, and entrepreneurship.

AIMEMS trainees have also developed outreach events for K-12 students from schools that have predominantly low-income underrepresented minority populations. Events have included lab tours, hands-on activities, and lessons on how the idea of sustainability might affect their local communities.

“Our students have been really engaged and excited to make their science interactive for high school and middle school students,” said Jennifer Nolan, project coordinator for AIMEMS. “It helps develop their communication skills and it helps these young students learn about STEM. Each experience has been a real highlight of the program.”

A new model to integrate AI into science

In the paper, AIMEMS faculty and staff offer key steps to making such programs work: providing core training in AI/machine learning, breaking down department silos to encourage students to work in collaborative teams, and prioritizing partnerships with national labs and industry.

“We found that we need to first provide coursework or boot camps to get everyone up to speed on AI and machine learning,” said Prof. Junhong Chen , a leader of the AIMEMS program who is also a lead water strategist at Argonne National Laboratory. “And then we need to facilitate interdisciplinary projects, but that is how students learn the most. Solutions across departments will always be better than solutions from one discipline.”

The program has been so successful that students and faculty have been invited to share their experiences at National Science Foundation events. “Students talk about the program with a sense of ownership and pride,” Nolan said. “It has created a community that they have fueled with their own creativity and passion.”

Ultimately, faculty would like to expand this model to integrate AI into other disciplines across the university. “We hope those in our community will be inspired to create a similar educational approach to train students to tackle more global problems,” Chen said.

The program is currently accepting applications for the 2024-25 school year.

UK grad ‘soars back’ after 40 years, becoming 1st to earn Ph.D. in aerospace engineering

April 30, 2024

“When I started at UK almost 45 years ago, I could not have imagined in my mind — nor even in any theoretical parallel universe — that I would be getting an aerospace Ph.D. from here,” Sinha said. “Much less to be the first recipient of the degree with an aerospace major. When you get older, you start to think about legacy, and this is a legacy that will endure.”

After receiving his bachelor's degree from UK 40 in 1983, Sujit Sinha returned more than 40 years later to become the first to earn a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering.

From the earliest days of childhood, there are those who seem to possess an unwavering clarity about their future.

Whether it's the child who dreams of exploring the cosmos or the budding artist who finds solace in strokes of color, there's a profound sense of direction.

It’s as if the essence of who they are, their passions, and their talents, are woven into the very fabric of their being.

At just 7 years old, Sujit Sinha’s aspirations were bold — and specific. “My late mother always told me that I said, ‘I’m going to work in mission control at NASA one day.’”

Despite growing up in the small town of Morehead, Kentucky, for Sinha, working in aeronautics didn’t seem out of reach.

That spark of passion was further ignited during a family trip to the Sunshine State.

“It was the summer of 1968. And of course, a must-stop was a visit to the Kennedy Space Center during the heyday of the Apollo program,” he said. “We got to tour the historic mission control building, and that was all I needed to establish my ultimate career aspiration.”

From that moment on, Sinha could often be found spending his free time building model planes and rockets. “All the way through high school, I built rockets — striving to construct ones that flew higher and higher.”

Sinha's desire to become a mechanical engineer was fueled by his unwavering determination. Yet, he recognized the importance of furthering his education, especially if he was going to land his NASA dream job.

That’s when, in August of 1979, Sinha’s journey as a Wildcat began.

“As with many students, the first two years were quite an adjustment. Since this was long before first-year engineering courses and living learning programs, it was difficult to meet other students in my major,” he continued. “As time went on, the courses were a struggle. Then, sophomore year was one of those ‘look into the abyss’ moments, where you feel like you are just about to go into freefall.”

With family support, Sinha completed those two years. And in his junior year, he found a second family at UK.

“I met many other students in mechanical engineering, and we formed a study and social group,” Sinha said. “Now, I always advise prospective students to join a study group.”

He continued to excel socially and academically, and in 1983, Sinha proudly crossed the Commencement stage with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Not unlike many recent graduates, Sinha was unclear about the path forward. He was both eager to begin his career and to continue his education.

“The education I received at UK provided me with the knowledge to take my career wherever I wanted,” Sinha said. “I stress this fact with prospective UK students. But of course, you must also be relentless in the pursuit of your goals — and have just a bit of luck.”​

As luck would have it, NASA came calling.

“I received a job offer from the Marshall Space Flight Center after only having a brief discussion with a NASA recruiter on campus,” Sinha recalled. “But I learned the role was exactly the dream job planted in my mind back in 1968. It would put me in the Launch Control Center, interacting with the mission control team in Houston.”

Those in mission control are often the underappreciated champions behind every successful space mission — navigating the intricate nuances of space travel with unparalleled precision.

At just 21 years old, Sinha found himself striving to anticipate challenges before they would arise and devising split-second contingency plans.

“During a launch, I managed the Main Propulsion System (MPS) console, with responsibility of fueling the large, brown shuttle external tank with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen," he explained. "Between launches, I designed the ascent flight trajectory for each space shuttle mission. Essentially, you need to get the shuttle into orbit without breaking the wings off of the orbiter, while keeping the aero-heating on the external tank (ET) within safety limits. You may recall, the reentry failure of the Shuttle Columbia was due to a piece of the ET coming off and hitting the wing of the orbiter during ascent. I also performed post-flight trajectory reconstruction after each shuttle mission.”

During that time, NASA would pay for Sinha to get a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. While completing evening courses at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, he also continued to excel in his career — holding many positions and filling many roles at NASA throughout the '80s.

A turning point came on Jan. 28, 1986 — the day of the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy.

“Everything changed,” Sinha said.

The challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard. The spacecraft disintegrated 46,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Cape Canaveral and was the first fatal accident involving an American spacecraft while in flight.

“As a result, I served on the Presidential Commission’s Challenger Accident Analysis Team. As an engineer, I helped to identify and explain the technical failure that occurred, but what I did not readily comprehend was the managerial thinking that contributed to the failure,” Sinha said. “Following the accident, I decided I needed to better understand how and why business and management decision-making differs from engineering and technical decision-making.”

After six years at NASA, Sinha left to pursue an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, at the University of Pennsylvania, which ultimately led to new ventures.

“I served as a civilian consultant to the Department of Defense at the Pentagon for a couple of years,” he said. “I was mentored by a retired three-star general. He established many of the management principles for leading large organizations that I now call my own.”

Despite aspirations to continue his education, life’s demands and opportunities continued to lead Sinha down a different path — applying his mechanical engineering expertise in practical settings.

“In NASA terminology, the pursuit of a Ph.D. went into an ‘unplanned 32-year hold.’”

When asked about his career highlights, Sinha describes his time spent as a management consultant, which involved working with various high-tech and aerospace CEOs and senior executives.

“A few examples include: determining if a commercial helicopter manufacturer should introduce a new product to the market; assessing if a major aerospace firm should purchase a corporate jet maker; deciding how a U.S. commercial launch manufacturer should partner with a Russian launch provider; etc.”

Sinha also led information technology strategy, architecture and innovation at Motorola, which invented cell phones. “Leading IT innovation was exciting, as I was able to introduce many new collaboration and mobile technologies globally,” he said.

Sinha held numerous roles over the course of his illustrious career, applying his expertise in diverse capacities.

And before he knew it, years had gone by since he was an apprehensive graduate — 40 years, to be exact.

Still, Sinha considered himself a lifelong learner. So, he “retired,” began to focus more on work-life balance and contemplated his next move.

“I always had a desire to teach. So, I was definitely planning on continuing my education and earning my Ph.D.,” he said. “My parents always stressed the importance of education as a core family value. I figured that a Ph.D. was the highest degree that could be obtained in engineering, and therefore, I should certainly aim to seek this level of education.”

In 2021, the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering launched undergraduate and graduate degree programs in  aerospace engineering .

Aerospace plays a significant role in Kentucky’s economy. In fact, aerospace exports are the top export in the state and number three in the United States — behind only California and Washington. According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky exported more than $14.6 billion in aerospace products in 2019.

Additionally, the Commonwealth is home to 79 aerospace-related facilities, which employ more than 19,000 people, including Belcan Corp., General Dynamics, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.

Housed in the  Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , the degree pathways foster research and innovation by enhancing collaborations between UK and the local aerospace industry.

“As a member of the engineering alumni board, over time, I learned about all of the great aerospace research going on at UK,” Sinha said. “And I began to think, once again, about finishing my Ph.D.”

So, after four decades, Sinha made the bold decision to return to UK and pursue his long-deferred dream.

Despite his commitment, being a student again wasn’t without challenges.

“You have to remember, during my undergrad I didn’t even have the internet,” Sinha exclaimed. “But the biggest challenge was re-learning all the calculus. When I would study with the “kids,” they would fly through the math associated with solving problems, so I would have to stop them and have them walk me through it. I certainly would have never completed my degree without the support of my fellow, much younger, and clearly smarter, students.”

This time around, Sinha also had the support of his two sons who attended college at the same time and graduated within a year of each other.

“There is an old tenet at the Pentagon that you should not ask the troops to do something that you are not willing to do — a leadership by example approach,” he said. “This principle is another reason I went back to finish my Ph.D., since I wanted to show my boys that I was willing to challenge myself to study along with them.”

Lastly, Sinha contributes his academic success to his mentors. “I actually had four advisors (Sean Bailey, Jesse Hoagg, Alexandre Martin and Suzanne Smith) for my Ph.D.,” he said. “The support from the faculty and college administration was invaluable to completing my degree.”

From the earliest days of childhood, Sinha seemed to possess an unwavering clarity about his future.

As for his definition of success, however, he now believes that comes in many forms.

Yes, Sinha’s latest accolade could help advance his future career aspirations. But he says it was never about salary or status.

Instead, his degree represents something more intangible.

The May 2024 Commencement Ceremonies will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 3 and 4, at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. More information can be found  here .

“It was the summer of 1968. And, a must-stop was a visit to the Kennedy Space Center," Sinha said. "That was all I needed to establish my ultimate career aspiration."

In 1983, Sinha proudly crossed the UK Commencement stage with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

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Graduate Student Spotlight: Vinicius Zanardo Rodrigues

I am from Fatima do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, a small countryside town in Brazil

I am a Ph.D. student in Nuclear Engineering, with a specialization in Reliability and Risk Assessment. My passion for nuclear engineering began even before I pursued my bachelor's degree in Brazil. The technology's power density and cleanliness with minimal impact to the environment, as well as the misconceptions surrounding it, motivated me to seek education in the United States with the goal of showcasing all the potential and benefits of nuclear power for all that still have the wrong vision about the technology. The OSU's nuclear program was an ideal match for me to achieve my objectives because of its history, capabilities, and situation among all the other nuclear programs in the country.

What brought you to Ohio State?

As one of the high-level nuclear programs in the country, Ohio State held my attention and, later on, my passion for its unique college style. At the same time, with a high-level and well-known faculty body and state-of-the-art research, the feeling of being part of the Buckeye family is amazing, and I felt it when I was during my application process, which was pretty unique, but this feeling just grew even further and got stronger after I landed here. Go Bucks!

What do you like most about the major and opportunities OSU allows?

One of the things I like the most about OSU's nuclear program is that we have a real research reactor right on campus. This was one of the biggest reasons why I chose OSU. Additionally, given the size of the university and the program, there are incredible opportunities to connect with nuclear industry partners, national laboratories, other universities, and government entities. This significantly facilitates the success of students after they graduate.

What is the best class you have taken so far and why?

My favorite class so far was NE Introduction to Nuclear Science and Engineering, a foundation course for the nuclear program that opened me up to a formal education in nuclear science and how nuclear phenomena occur and can be explained formally.

My other favorite classes are aligned with the nuclear core courses and the Reliability Engineering course. These courses provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of nuclear engineering, from a neutron born inside a fuel pellet to the entire system of a nuclear plant. Furthermore, I gained essential insights into reliability, which is a crucial element for all engineering fields, particularly nuclear engineering.

What advice would you give high school students considering pursuing engineering as a major?

My advice for high school students is not to be shy to ask questions; it is not your fault if you do not know that topic; your curiosity is your fuel, and it will definitely guide you in your career and personal life as my curiosity is guiding me every single day. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, to try/learn something that at the beginning seems so hard or far from you, just you will live your life. I left my family, friends, and home country to pursue my dreams. I guarantee you that it will not be easy in the beginning, but with perseverance and tenacity, you will reach all your goals.

What is an important decision you made during your time at MAE?

An important decision that I took was to be part of the American Nuclear Society Student Section at OSU. With a busy Ph.D. student schedule, I thought that I should do something else to get involved in my area and open myself to new experiences. So, being treasurer and now president of the ANS student organization gave me a further sense of time management, communication, and leadership, which reflected in my research and academic duties, as well as in my personal life.

What was your favorite activity to do as a kid?

Even if I am a little bit shy, I always like to talk with other people, so activities that involve team building, such as soccer, were one my favorite activities as a kid.

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Graduate School honors 28 students from Auburn Engineering

Published: Apr 30, 2024 9:45 AM

By Kat Bader

More than 20 engineering graduate students were recognized at the annual Auburn University Graduate School awards ceremony,  Friday,  April 26, in the Melton Student Center Ballroom.  

Auburn Engineering’s graduate program , which  has an enrollment of  more than 1,100 students, was recently ranked No. 19 in the 2024 U.S. News and World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Engineering programs , marking  four consecutive years in the top 20 and eight years in the top 25.

“Our students' dedication and commitment to excellence shine through as they contribute significantly to campus life through research and involvement in student organizations. Our graduate students also have a rich legacy of influencing  both  industry and academia beyond Auburn,” said Maria Auad , associate dean for graduate studies and faculty development. “It  comes as  no surprise that our program's graduate students rank among the finest at the university and are undoubtedly among the nation's elite."

Auburn Engineering graduate students/faculty recognized were:  

• P. Anthony Matthews, civil and environmental engineering (Merriwether Fellowship)
• Muztahid Muhammed, mechanical engineering (Merriwether Fellowship)
• Suman Budhathoki, biosystems engineering (Master’s Thesis Award)
• Olamide Durodola, biosystems engineering (Master’s Thesis Award) 
• Hemendra Kumar, biosystems engineering (Distinguished Dissertation Award)
• Aleksandr Dolgavin, computer science and software engineering (Outstanding Master’s Student)
• Preetika Kauer, biosystems engineering (Outstanding Master’s Student)
• Tanner Koza, mechanical engineering (Outstanding Master’s Student)
• Muhammad Shahan Qamar, aerospace engineering (Outstanding Master’s Student)
• Nabeel Ahmad, mechanical engineering (Outstanding Doctoral Student)
• Tianshi Che, computer science and software engineering (Outstanding Doctoral Student)
• Md Mahmud Hossain, civil and environmental engineering (Outstanding Doctoral Student)
• Vladislav Korostelev, materials engineering (Outstanding Doctoral Student)
• Kritika Malhotra, biosystems engineering (Outstanding Doctoral Student)
• Souvika Sarkar, computer science and software engineering (Outstanding Doctoral Student)
• Mengwei Xuan, civil and environmental engineering (Outstanding Doctoral Student)
• Matthew T. Garnett, chemical engineering (Frank Sturm Memorial Fellowship)
• Symone Alexander , assistant professor in chemical engineering (Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award)
• J. Brian Anderson , professor (geotechnical) in civil and environmental engineering (Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award)
• Soundarya Korlapati, computer science and software engineering (Outstanding Service to Auburn Research Award)
• Esther Akinrinde, industrial and systems engineering (Outstanding Graduate Student Council Senators)
• Olumide Falana, biosystems engineering (Outstanding Graduate Student Council Senators)
• Onyedika Mbelu, mechanical engineering (Outstanding Graduate Student Council Senators)
• Will McAtee, aerospace engineering (Outstanding Graduate Student Council Senators)
• E. Steven Porterfield, materials engineering (Outstanding Graduate Student Council Senators)
• Rehman Qureshi, aerospace engineering (Outstanding Graduate Student Council Senators)
• Mrinmoy Saha, mechanical engineering (Outstanding Graduate Student Council Senators)
• Harrish Kumar Senthil Kumar, chemical engineering (Outstanding Graduate Student Council Senators)

Diversity within Auburn’s 10 engineering fields of study — aerospace, biosystems, chemical, civil and environmental, computer science and software, electrical and computer , industrial and systems, materials, mechanical and wireless —  provide graduate students with a host of  master’s and doctorate programs.  

Prospective graduate students can learn more about Auburn Engineering, and they can   apply and schedule a visit here . 

Pictured is the Shelby Center for Engineering Technology on Auburn's campus.

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