Data Driven Research and Innovation (DDRI) Programme: Fully Funded PhDs

The Data Driven Research and Innovation (DDRI) Programme is a major strategic initiative by Coventry University involving close collaboration with University and Sector partners that are amongst the leaders in their respective fields. A key part of this collaboration includes creating a group of 14 fully funded PhDs (including a full bursary and tuition fees) from across a range of disciplines. These bring together Research Centres and Institutes from the Universities of Coventry, Sheffield, Stirling, Greenwich, and the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol. 8 of these PhDs have already been filled through an earlier advertising round; a further 3 are now being recruited to start in September 2018.

The DDRI Programme involves residential facilities and domestic homes, as well as private vehicles and public transport services, and there is a strong community focus throughout. Its major goal is to use data driven analytics and insights to support: independent living; healthy ageing; improved quality of life, well-being and care (self-care or care from others); improved management of particular health conditions; and enabling people to stay in their own homes for longer. The use of smart buildings and intelligent mobility to support improvements in health, care and well-being are also important themes.

The Director of Studies will come from either Coventry or one of the Partner Universities, and in each case there will be a supervisory panel comprising personnel from across both organisations. The PhDs will work closely with the Residential Partners, who will provide expertise and access to resources and facilities, and the successful candidates will have an unprecedented opportunity to work on projects that are at the cutting edge of research and innovation within the Housing and Residential Care sectors.

The PhD’s are of two types:

1. Inter-Disciplinary PhD’s – these involve collaboration between different Coventry University Research Centres, where the lead centre provides the Director of Studies and there is co-supervision from all of the collaborating centres
2. Inter-University PhD’s – these involve collaboration between Coventry University and a partner University, where the lead Coventry Research Centre provides the Director of Studies and there is co-supervision from all of the collaborating centres at both Universities.