Evolutionary algorithms have a long history of use in optimisation problems, but these systems tend to search through fixed solution spaces with well-defined goals for success. In biology, natural selection appears capable of more than this: the continual generation of innovative life forms that adapt to new and changing environments and which over billions of years have evolved transitions from simple replicating chemistry through single-celled life forms and onward to the major branches of life that fill our world. This PhD will draw deeper inspiration from biology to examine how to formulate, organise and deploy algorithms for evolutionary development (evodevo) to the field of engineering design, with the goal of generating real physical artefacts and products that exploit modern simulation and manufacturing methods to their full potential. You will be working with researchers on the EPSRC platform grant "RIED: Re-Imagining Engineering Design". Key to this approach is the study of how members of a population evolve useful transactions between each other including, but not restricted to *spatial organisation*, *parasitism*, *novelty* and *horizontal gene transfer*. The research challenge is to identify beneficial ways in which the population forms and reforms networks at a higher organisational level than that of the individual.
This project will be jointly supervised by Professor Andy Tyrrell and Dr Simon Hickinbotham in the Department of Electronic Engineering, University of York.
Entry requirements:
Candidates should have (or expect to obtain) a minimum of a UK upper second class honours degree (2.1) or equivalent in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related subject.
How to Apply:
Applicants must apply via the University’s online application system at https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/apply/. Please read the application guidance first so that you understand the various steps in the application process. To apply, please select the PhD in Electronic Engineering for October 2022 entry. Please specify in your PhD application that you would like to be considered for this studentship.
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