Sensor Systems Initiative

The Sensor Systems Initiative at University of Glasgow was established in 2012 through a ~£3m investment by the College of Science and Engineering, to provide a platform for the university to maintain and develop its role as a leader in sensors research.‌

The initiative will create eight research fellowships to develop both personal and University leadership for the future, as well as 15 research studentships. These positions will help to foster cross-disciplinary research in the College of Science and Engineering, and with colleagues throughout the University. The initiative is also sponsoring the development of the University estate to create an exciting new environment for doctoral training in a 1000 m2 space over two floors of the James Watt South Building.

Sensors Research

The University of Glasgow has an excellent track record of research in sensors and sensors systems.  Our work encompasses research into novel types of devices and instrumentation development for basic sciences, through communications and networks, to information science. As a consequence the University’s researchers deliver capability spanning the entire sensor system stack from raw measurement to user knowledge.

The University seeks to continue as a leader in sensors systems research to produce impact that will benefit industry, government and society. Our strengths are embedded in the Schools of the College of Science and Engineering. The University has also a leading role in the development of Knowledge Exchange and its strategic development has supported the creation of the Scottish Sensor Systems Centre (S3C) and the Innovation Centre for Sensors and Imaging Systems (CENSIS).

Recent sensors research grants include:

  • The Multicorder - EPSRC programme grant (PI - Prof David Cumming), £3.4m award value
  • Sonopill - EPSRC programme grant (Glasgow Co-investigator - Prof David Cumming), £5m award value
  • Triple wavelength superspectral camera focal-plane array (SUPERCAMERA) - EPSRC research grant, (PI - Prof David Cumming), £1.5m award value
  • Micro Electro Mechanical Sensor (MEMS) gradiometer - Royal Society Paul Instrument Fund (PI - Dr Giles Hammond, Co-investigator Prof Douglas Paul), £68,000 award value

To find out more about sensors research at the University of Glasgow, download our brochure.

Lord Kelvin Adam Smith Fellows in Sensors Systems

There are currently five Fellows supported by the Sensor Systems Initiative.

Through these fellowships we aim to develop leaders within the field of sensors and sensor systems research who can deliver internationally-leading research to tackle some of the sensor grand challenges, including:

  • Healthcare technologies
  • Security and Global Uncertainty
  • The Digital Economy
  • Living with Environmental Change
  • Energy

PhD studentships

The Sensor Systems Inititative funds a number of PhD studentships.

Current sensor systems students are:

  • Boon Chong Cheah, School of Engineering -  Vital Ion Sensing for Chemistry and Biology
  • Amira El-Ayouti, School of Maths & Statistics - Sensing and making sense of the environment
  • Lewis MacKenzie, School of Physics and Astronomy - Optical vascular oximetry in ocular and peripheral tissue for clinical applications
  • Richard Middlemiss, School of Physics & Astronomy - Ultra-sensitive, wide bandwidth miniaturised gravity sensors
  • Qinying Shu, School of Physics and Astronomy
  • George Skotis, School of Engineering
  • Sean O’Byrne, School of Chemistry/School of Engineering

Future opportunities

The Sensor Systems Initiative will continue to fund studentships in the future, both directly and through Doctoral Training Centres.

Current PhD opportunity in Interactive Representations of Uncertainty for Modern Statistical Inference

Events

Sensors & Sensor Systems workshop - Monday 25th November 2013 2pm, Senate Room, University of Glasgow

As part of the ongoing  Sensors initiative, a workshop will be held on November 25th dedicated to the upper layers of the sensor stack - "communication and networking; pre and post data processing; modelling; and visualisation".

The programme includes two invited presentations:

  • Dr Luigi Spezia, Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland, "Aberdeen Modelling Data from Automatic Monitoring of Organisms and Environment"
  • Dr Veli Bicer, IBM Research Centre, Dublin  City Search: An evolution of search to incorporate city data

There will also be an opportunity for short contributed (10 minutes) papers and posters by staff and postgraduate students. Prospective contributors are asked to send in short abstracts (200 words) by email to Linsey.robertson@glasgow.ac.uk by 4th November 2013. Wine & nibbles will be provided for the poster session.

Please register here if you wish to attend this event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/8894159671

More information

For further information on the Sensor Systems Initiative please contact: