Launching Autumn 2025: New Acoustics PhDs

Dozens of fully-funded PhD opportunities in sustainable sound are available thanks to a new Centre of Doctoral Training (CDT) funded by EPSRC.

Applications are now open at the University of Salford, along with partners Bristol, Sheffield and Southampton Universities. Together there will be about 14 PhDs in starting in Autumn 2025.

Salford is well known as one of the top institutions for acoustics in the UK, boasting world-class acoustic facilities and expert technical staff.

PhD candidates will be trained to have the skills and knowledge to reduce the harms caused by noise and poor acoustics and forge a more positive sounding future. The programme has created collaborations for doctoral training in Acoustics across four universities and over 50 project partners.

Partners sponsoring PhDs based at Salford include engineering firm Farrat, who will sponsor a PhD looking at how to reduce vibrations and noise in built up urban areas. HEAD acoustics and Defra are also sponsoring PhD opportunities in sustainable sound.

There are some enhanced stipends from EPSRC available for underrepresented groups in Acoustics Research. Farrat is also generously offering an enhanced stipend for their project.

Director of the new CDT, Professor Trevor Cox said: “To tackle the problem of noise we need applicants who can combine in-depth research alongside working with other PhDs to develop the broad skills needed to create a better sounding future.”

One of the leading factors behind the course’s initiation stemmed from noise being considered a “neglected pollutant” in the 2023 House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report. With noise being a health problem for one in five European citizens, causing issues from hearing loss to chronic stress to heart disease, it has become increasingly critical that much more research is needed to tackle these ever-growing problems.

Students can expect to investigate the engineering of positive sounds. From using sound to improve the accessibility of products, through to enhancing cultural events that boost well-being, there are many ways of creating a better sounding future.

The CDT has four research themes: New sound sources, Perception of sound by human and other animals, Machine Learning for sound, Positive uses of sound.

Alongside this, extensive training will be received, going far beyond what is normally available for standard PhDs in Acoustics, including: a mixture of week-long residentials, master classes, theme days and online training. Placements in industry and academic partners will play an important role in ensuring students learn about context and how to create impact. Employment prospects for doctoral graduates will be extremely good, as there is a chronic shortage of PhD graduates in this area.

For more information click here.

Applications are now open, deadline 15^th January 2025.