Electronic and Electrical Engineering: Fully Funded EPSRC and Swansea University PhD Scholarship: Wireless power transfer system for medical implant devices (RS674)

Funding providers: EPSRC and Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Engineering

Subject areas: Electronic and electrical engineering, physics and biomedical engineering

The research is at the forefront of developing innovative solutions for wireless power transfer systems tailored for medical implant devices. This interdisciplinary research will involve the integration of power electronic converters and machine learning algorithms to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and safety of power delivery to medical implants. 

Project start date: 
1 January 2025 
1 April 2025
1 July 2025 

Supervisors:

• Dr Anwar Ali (anwar.ali@swansea.ac.uk) 
• Professor Vincent Teng 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Mode of study: Full-time 

Project description: 

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) are gaining popularity in the health and medical sectors because of their vast applications, such as cardiac pacemakers, artificial hearts, defibrillators, coronary stents, intraocular lenses, hip implants, orthopaedic implants, and implantable glucose sensors. Traditionally, these IMDs are battery-dependent with limited life span hence surgery is required to replace the battery, which is the biggest source of distress in patients. A wireless power transfer (WPT) system can prove to be an excellent alternative that acts as a wireless charger to the medical implants.

However, there are many considerations when designing a WPT system. For example, the distance between power transmitter and position of the IMD inside the human body, the operating frequency and its effect on the body’s tissue, and size of the WPT system are some of the major considerations. Therefore, the research into WPT system consists of optimizing the size and geometry of the coils of transmitter and receiver, appropriate material selection for the coil, finding the optimal operating frequency, improving the quality factor of the inductors and selection of best performing compensation capacitor to enhance the efficiency of the system.

Aims:

• To design highly efficient wireless power transfer (WPT) system that is safe to use for the elderly population.
• To ensure the WPT system is receptive to misalignments between transmitter and IMD.
• To produce a compact and portable WPT system.
• To implement artificial intelligence in the system to allow autonomous operation and application.

Facilities:

The electronic laboratory, where the project will be undertaken, has many state-of-the-art instruments and equipment, such as PCB design and fabrication tools as well as signal acquisition equipment, to ensure good research outcomes.

Desirable:

• Qualifications in Electronic/Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or Physics. 
• Strong background in electronic circuits, power electronics and machine learning. 
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C/C++ and MATLAB. 
• Demonstrated relevant project experience. 
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations. 

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,237.

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice – please select as per preferred start date -  
   *For January 2025 start select:
   Electronic and Electrical Engineering/ PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / January
   OR
   *For April 2025 start select:
   Electronic and Electrical Engineering/ PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / April
   OR
   *For July 2025 start select:
   Electronic and Electrical Engineering/ PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / July
   
   

   In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

2. Start year – please select 2025
3. Funding (page 8) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter 'RS674 - Medical Implant Devices'.

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email). We strongly advise you to provide the listed supporting documents by the advertised closing date, where possible:

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
• Two references (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Dr Anwar Ali (anwar.ali@swansea.ac.uk).

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.