University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science

DPhil student Fenglin Liu wins IET William James Award for Biomedical Engineering Fenglin Liu has been announced as this year's winner of a prestigious Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Healthcare Technologies Award for early-career researchers. His research, supervised by Professor David Clifton, explores how algorithms can use data from analogous diseases so that tools can be ready to deploy within 1-2 weeks of encountering a new pandemic. During new pandemics, sufficient computing resources for existing AI systems needed to provide evidence-based medical recommendations are typically unavailable. During COVID-19, the time taken to collect sufficient data meant that 1-3 waves (6-12 months) could pass before AI systems were ready to be deployed. Fenglin’s project outlines an effective AI system that could be ready for deployment within 1-2 weeks, rather than months, presenting a quick response to combat future pandemics.

Lord Hague of Richmond will serve as the next Chancellor of Oxford University having won a majority of support in the final round of voting for the post. Lord Hague becomes the 160th recorded Chancellor in the University’s history, a role that dates back at least 800 years. ‘Thank you to my fellow Oxonians for placing such confidence in me. I regard being elected as the Chancellor of our university as the greatest honour of my life. I pay tribute to the other candidates, in particular for their commitment to the future of Oxford. What happens at Oxford in the next decade is critical to the success of the UK. 'I look forward to working closely with the Vice-Chancellor and her team, along with students and alumni, to build on their excellent work. My heart and soul are in Oxford and I will dedicate myself in the coming years to serving the University I love.’ More information ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eH5a3h2x

We're #hiring a new Associate Professor of Engineering Science (Control Engineering) in Oxford, England. Apply today or share this post with your network.

🎬 Hghlights from Meeting Minds Oxford 2024! We were thrilled to welcome over 1,200 alumni and friends back to Oxford in September for our annual alumni weekend, Meeting Minds. From thought-provoking talks by leading Oxford academics and alumni, to networking opportunities and exclusive tours, the event was a true celebration of the incredible diversity and talent within our Oxford community. We hope to see you next year! Be sure to mark your calendars for Meeting Minds Oxford 2025, taking place Friday 19 - Sunday 21 September 2025. Missed out or want to revisit your favourite talks? Catch up here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/e2MNZD-b

*Postdoctoral Research Associate in Second-Life Battery Grid Storage*   We are seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Power Systems Architecture Lab within the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford. The post is funded by the Oxford Martin Programme on Circular Battery Economies. It is fixed term for 30 months (or up to December 2027).   You will undertake original research on the technical integration and economic evaluation of second life batteries for power grid energy storage, focusing on clean electricity access in the Global South. The research will bring together power grid and battery modelling, optimisation, economic evaluation and material flow analysis. The project will also involve close collaboration with researchers from other disciplines within the Oxford Martin Circular Battery Economies Programme, who are working on second-life battery modelling, re-certification, and redeployment, as well as social acceptability and policy design.    You should hold a relevant PhD/DPhil, or be near completion, in electrical engineering, economics, applied mathematics or another related area. (For candidates with an undergraduate/master’s degree, there is the potential for the appointment to be Grade 6 (£34,982 - £40,855 per annum).   Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment system and should include the covering letter/supporting statement (describing how you meet the criteria), a CV, and names of two academic references.    The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on 09 January 2025. https://lnkd.in/eD4vfUf6  

Bridge maintenance in the U.S. is more greatly associated with wealthier and less marginalized communities, research finds. The paper Social Equity of Bridge Management has been selected by the ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering Award Committee for their 2024 Best Paper Award. The paper, written by Professor Daniel Armanios (he/him/il/他), FASME (University of Oxford) along with Cari Anne Gandy and Constantine Samaras of Carnegie Mellon University, implements novel techniques that advance and integrate bridge condition degradation modelling with social equity assessments to identify associations between community demography and bridge condition. A comparison of established bridge deterioration with surrounding community demographics found that bridges located in lower-income, as well as in predominantly Black or African American, or disadvantaged communities, are more likely to be in poor condition. https://lnkd.in/e5UVFGRE

I am delighted to have collaborated with the world-leading think tank Chatham House as a technical panel member and modeller on this remarkable initiative exploring the trade-offs, opportunities, and challenges of transitioning to a sustainable #bioeconomy. A heartfelt thank you to the incredible team led by Ana Yang, and supported by Henry Throp and Suzannah Sherman, along with other global experts, for the opportunity to contribute to advancing this important agenda. This paper underscores the critical importance of strategic #collaboration in managing the roll-out of #innovations and addressing the competition for #land and #resources that may emerge. We examined the interdependencies, dynamics, and implications of a wide range of innovations, including land-sparing solutions like #alternativeproteins and land-intensive applications such as cross-laminated timber and #bioplastics. While significant progress has been made, there is still much work to do in this vital area. #sustainability #climate #policy #collaboration #biomass #bioenergy #biochemicals

Next year road tax will undergo a major overhaul and starting April 1st, EVs will lose their VED exemption. Emissions experts Nick Molden and Associate Professor of Engineering Science Felix Leach say there is a road tax solution that is not only better for the environment, but simpler to administer and much easier to understand. Cars should be taxed on a combination of weight and mileage, according to their radical new study. They will be launching their new book: Critical Mass: The One Thing You Need to Know About Green Cars, at Keble College, Oxford, on November 25th and Imperial College, London, on December 2nd. The events will outline proposals for a simpler, more environmentally-credible road tax system. https://lnkd.in/e8PRS_2d

🤔 What if you could combine your academic expertise with hands-on experience to solve real-world challenges? Ian Pimenta, an MSc graduate in Energy Systems and a 2024 Fellow did just that. He shares his journey working on the BMW Group MINI Plant Oxford partnership project, where his team tackled challenges in #AI-powered production and #sustainability. 🌍✨ Ready to drive change? Applications close midday on 25 November 2024! Apply now 👉 tinyurl.com/yw6asbuk #OxfordSDGImpactLab #Leadership #Sustainability #GlobalGoals #SDGs | University of Oxford | University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science #Lablife #OxfordGrad

The EPSRC today announced £22 million investment for seven projects to kick start economic growth and address regional needs. The projects are led by consortia of universities, civic bodies, businesses and local authorities. Each consortium focuses on a scientific theme in engineering and physical sciences research and targets a specific geographical area to support the expansion or development of a research and innovation cluster. The Nuclear robotics and artificial intelligence cluster across Cumbria and Oxfordshire is being led by Dr Kirsty Hewitson at the UK Atomic Energy Authority, with University and civic partners including the University of Oxford. Professor Nick Hawes, Director of the Oxford Robotics Institute, who will lead Oxford’s involvement, says: “We’ve already seen the huge impact that robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can have on problems in nuclear decommission. This new place-based impact accelerator will allow the Oxford Robotics Institute to continue to help shape that impact by supporting the robotics and AI community in bringing their innovations to bear on problems in the nuclear industry.” https://lnkd.in/d7cJ6wCu