International Summer School

1. Improving Cardiovascular Health using Computational Modelling by Dr Ankush Aggarwal (Areas: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Healthcare Technologies; Computer Science and Software Development)

This is an interdisciplinary project, with aspects of AI/ML and computing science and software development. The project may involve image segmentation and classification, data analysis, and software integration.

2. Sensing device design for sustainable environmental monitoring by Dr Olaoluwa Popoola (Areas: Robotics; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning)

In light of increasing environmental concerns, such as climate change, pollution, and habitat degradation, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions to monitor and assess ecological health. This project aims to design and prototype a sustainable sensing device that can facilitate real-time environmental monitoring. The device will utilize low-cost, energy-efficient sensors to gather data on key environmental parameters, enabling communities and researchers to analyze and address their local environmental challenges.

3. Design of Prosthetic Hands for individuals with upper limb differences by Dr Lucas Ferrari Gerez (Area: Robotics; Mechanical Design)

The project will involve the development of affordable prosthetic hands for individuals with upper limb differences. These prosthetic hands will be also used for educational purposes, motivating students in high school to pursue STEM related education. The project will involve designing and 3-printing the mechanical components of the robotic hands, and integrating them with motors and sensors.

4. Large Language Model Integrated Digital Twin Architecture by Dr Ahmad Taha (Areas: Wireless Communications; Healthcare Technologies; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Systems Engineering)

Digital Twins (DTs) represent a cutting-edge paradigm in smart systems, offering a virtual replica of physical systems to enable real-time monitoring, predictive analysis, and optimisation. In conjunction with the Internet of Things (IoT), DTs harness data from Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) through IoT-enabled sensors and devices, creating a seamless interface between the physical and digital worlds. This project focuses on integrating a pre-designed CPS with a large language model (LLM) to enhance user interaction and awareness in a smart residential environment. The CPS, an IoT-based wireless sensor network, monitors energy consumption and indoor environmental parameters such as air quality, temperature, and humidity. The project will involve developing a functional interface (frontend and backend) to seamlessly connect the CPS and the LLM, enabling tenants to access insights and recommendations about their energy usage and indoor air quality. A lab-based evaluation will assess system usability, reliability, and its potential to promote sustainable behaviour.

5. AI-Enabled Digital Twins to Support Net-Zero Transition by Dr Ahmad Taha (Areas: Wireless Communications; Healthcare Technologies; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Systems Engineering)

This project aims to design and implement an AI-enabled DT architecture integrated with a CPS to support net-zero objectives. By leveraging platforms such as Bentley Systems iTwin, MATLAB, and ANSYS, the project will create a DT capable of real-time visualisation, AI-driven decision-making, and predictive analysis. Integration will be achieved through APIs that link the DT with CPS and AI algorithms. This project will explore the intersection of IoT, AI, and DT technologies, contributing to their application in fostering sustainable, energy-efficient, and data-driven systems.

6. Transport Digital Twins: An Evaluation Framework for Optimised High-Fidelity Connectivity by Dr Ahmad Taha (Areas: Wireless Communications; Healthcare Technologies; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Systems Engineering)

Digital Twins (DTs) are increasingly vital in the transport industry, enabling the digital replication of physical transport systems, including networks, vehicles, and logistics operations. These DTs facilitate real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and operational optimisation across various transport modes—road, rail, air, and maritime. However, achieving high-fidelity, two-way synchronisation between physical assets and their digital counterparts remains a significant challenge, particularly in large-scale, dynamic environments. The reliance on continuous, high-volume IoT connectivity across vast geographical regions further complicates this process, potentially straining communication infrastructure and causing data latency. Ensuring real-time accuracy in DTs is essential for effective decision-making in critical areas such as traffic management, fleet optimisation, and safety monitoring. The project aims to develop a comprehensive evaluation framework to assess and optimize scalable communication systems for transport DTs.

7. Internet-of-Things-based Smart Sustainability in Homes and Offices by Dr Ahmad Taha (Areas: Wireless Communications; Healthcare Technologies; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Systems Engineering)

The proposed project aims to investigate the impact of the phantom load of typical everyday-use appliances and devices and implement a framework, that utilises an intelligent system, to eliminate it. Examples of appliances and other devices targeted in this project are white goods, i.e., washing machines, tumble dryers, cookers, desktop computers and screen monitors.

8. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning by Professor Qammer H Abbasi (Areas: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning)

This project focuses on developing AI-driven predictive models and deep learning algorithms for real-time data analysis, automation, and decision-making across various domains. It leverages neural networks, reinforcement learning, and generative AI to enhance efficiency, optimize workflows, and enable intelligent automation.

9. Quantum Technologies by Professor Qammer H Abbasi (Area: Quantum Technologies)

This project explores quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and quantum sensing to develop next-generation secure communication, ultra-fast computations, and high-precision measurements. It involves designing quantum algorithms, quantum hardware implementations, and cryogenic control systems for scalable quantum processors.

10. Healthcare Technologies by Professor Qammer H Abbasi (Area: Healthcare Technologies)

This project integrates AI, IoT, and biomedical engineering to develop smart diagnostic tools, remote patient monitoring systems, and AI-assisted medical imaging. It focuses on early disease detection, personalized treatment plans, and enhancing healthcare accessibility through advanced wearable and implantable devices.

11. Wireless Communications by Professor Qammer H Abbasi (Area: Wireless Communications)

This project advances 5G/6G technologies, focusing on MIMO, beamforming, and spectrum efficiency to enhance wireless connectivity. It develops high-speed, low-latency communication solutions for IoT, smart cities, and next-generation mobile networks, ensuring robust and scalable connectivity.

12. Antennas, Metasurfaces, and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces by Professor Qammer H Abbasi (Area: Antennas and Electromagnetics)

This project involves designing advanced antenna systems, metasurfaces, and RIS to improve signal propagation, enhance beam steering, and optimize electromagnetic wave manipulation. It enables high-performance wireless communication, energy-efficient networks, and next-generation radar and sensing applications.

13. The Internet-of-Mirrors (IoM) by Dr Lina Mohjazi (Areas: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Healthcare Technologies; Wireless Communications)

The internet of mirrors (IoM) is an innovative interconnected ecosystem of smart mirrors under the umbrella of the Internet of Things (IoT) with integrated sensing and communication capabilities to enhance personalised services for assisted living. This research project will focus on developing a physical testbed to evaluate and validate key performance aspects of the IoM framework. Students will construct a hierarchical network to simulate a realistic IoM deployment with a specific focus on context aware task distribution. The project involves building a comprehensive monitoring system to track node capabilities and network quality, developing task generators that represent various workloads, and implementing a central coordinator to manage task distribution. Students will collect and analyse performance metrics across three dimensions: task metrics (completion time, success rate, queue time), node metrics (CPU, memory, and network utilisation), and system metrics (overall throughput, response time, and resource balance). This hands-on project will provide valuable insights into how context-aware algorithms perform in real hardware environments and how the IoM framework functions under various network conditions and resource constraints.

14. Sensing device design for sustainable environmental monitoring by Dr Masood ur Rehman (Areas: Healthcare Technologies; Wireless Communications)

In light of increasing environmental concerns, such as climate change, pollution, and habitat degradation, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions to monitor and assess ecological health. This project aims to design and prototype a sustainable sensing device that can facilitate real-time environmental monitoring. The device will utilize low-cost, energy-efficient sensors to gather data on key environmental parameters, enabling communities and researchers to analyze and address their local environmental challenges.

Course aim:

The aims of the course are to provide experience in the planning and execution of a short research project, data analysis and interpretation, the production of a written report and presenting and discussing research findings to staff and peers.

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Propose a preliminary list of goals to be achieved during the project in collaboration with the project supervisor;
• Critically appraise the literature related to the research project;
• Apply research skills appropriate to the area of specialisation;
• Deliver a clear, well-constructed oral presentation describing their research to their peers;
• Compose a cogent, clear and concise report summarising their findings and the state of research in their chosen field.

The course assessment has 4 components: a literature review (15%) which is undertaken in advance of starting the 6-week project; the supervisor’s assessment based on research logbook, research performance, attitude and participation (20%); an oral presentation (10%) which takes place during the last week; and a project report (55%) submitted at the end of the project.

• GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent). 
• Currently enrolled at an international higher education institution.
• You will ideally have completed 2nd year of your Undergraduate Degree in an engineering discipline, majoring in a discipline related to the research project subject area

Background knowledge of computer programming is desirable but not essential, training will be provided.

If your first language is not English, you must meet our minimum proficiency level:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training) overall score of 6.0, with no sub test less than 5.5  (if English is not an applicant’s first language) and a GPA of not less than 3.0
• We also accept equivalent scores in other recognised qualifications such as ibTOEFL, CAE, CPE and more.