Start Date: March to August 2015 (by negotiation)
Duration of award: 3 years 

Supervisors: 
Dr. Stephen Hobbs – Head of Space Group, SATM

Sponsored by EPSRC, this studentship will provide a bursary of up to £13,863 p.a. (tax free) plus fees* for three years

Networks and connectivity are increasingly important for technology – on Earth and also in space.  The vision of smart space requires distributed, collaborating satellites and a key enabling technology is the communication link.  In orbit, optical datalinks can provide huge bandwidth with modest power demand and the goal of this project is to develop system models of optical datalinks to design high bandwidth links suitable for small / nano-satellites.  Key enabling technologies are the optics, requiring lightweight precision surfaces, and the pointing control.  The project’s aim is to develop a design for on-orbit technology demonstration and related future mission concepts.

The project is collaborative between Cranfield’s Space Research Centre and the Precision Engineering Group.  Major international telescopes for in-orbit and ground-based astronomy use optics manufactured by the Precision Engineering Group, which is a world-leader in ultra-precision engineering.  The Space Research Centre is a leading European centre for space system engineering.  We are building payloads for current missions such as TechDemoSat and ESEO, and teach the MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering.  The successful student will be expected to participate in the centres’ activities as well as his/her own research project and there are opportunities for travel overseas.

Students from the EU with interests in space system design and with good engineering skills are invited to apply for this fully funded post.  The studentship covers full EU fees and a maintenance bursary based on EPSRC rates (currently £13,863 pa) for EU students.

Entry requirements:

Applicants should have a first or second class UK honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline, such as mathematics, or engineering. The ideal candidate will have some understanding of space engineering, systems and / or simulation. The candidate should be self-motivated, have good numeracy and communication skills and be interested in space technology.

Funding:

*Fees and a maintenance bursary at the current EPSRC rate are provided with this award (subject to satisfactory progress).

How to apply:

For further information please contact: Dr. Stephen Hobbs, T: (0) 1234 750111 Ext: 5121

To apply formally and if you believe you are eligible to apply for this research studentship, please complete the online application form Ref: CRAN1042

Further information about Cranfield University’s Space Group is available at www.cranfieldspace.org or contact us:

School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing
T: 44 (0)1234 758008
E: enquiries<στο>cranfield.ac.uk