Web & Internet Science

Location:  Highfield Campus
Salary:   £31,406 to £37,467 per annum
Fixed Term until 01/07/2024
Closing Date:  Friday 17 June 2022
Interview Date:   To be confirmed
Reference:  1824922FP

This exciting research post is part of a Leverhulme funded two year project to investigate “The role of subglacial soft bed hydrology on glacier response to climate change” as part of a joint project involving Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) with the School of Geography & Environmental Science. This post will be based in ECS and concentrate on the development of a low power Internet of Things (IoT) Real Time Kinematic (RTK) Global Navigation Satellite System tracker with UAV-based deployment. 

We have designed and deployed an initial system that has sent back live glacier-flow data from Iceland for three years. We aim to improve the energy efficiency, communications, weight and usability of the system so that we can use an Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to deliver the system onto hazardous areas of the glacier. This would allow measurements in inaccessible areas, which have fast flow. 

The system comprises a base station, one or more rovers and a server receiving the data. It is based on L1/L2 dGPS which achieves centimetre accuracy. This provides 4 hourly position measurements using a small battery which has to last a year. The system is controlled by an ARM microcontroller, which runs micropython and has a micro-amp sleep state between readings. Synchronised base station units are placed in the foreland, which transmit dGPS corrections to the rovers according to a schedule. The original system used Iridium for off-site communication but the new design will pioneer the use of new nano-sat communications (swarm.space) or GSM network where available. A new PCB will be designed with all the components. We will use our DJI Matrice 300 quadcopter to test supervised sensor deployment and collection strategies using its Payload SDK and camera for visual inspection. This operates at km distances and has a max. payload of 2.7kg.  One of the challenges is to make an efficient design which can be carried and picked-up by the UAV. Fieldwork will take place initially in the local area and then in Iceland.

You will develop the data website and work together with the Geography researcher and PIs. This post offers an opportunity to develop a range of skills across different technical areas, working closely with geoscientists.

To join us on this exciting project you will need to have a PhD or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in Embedded Electronics; demonstrate detailed understanding and knowledge of embedded programming and experience of designing PCB's.  An interest in environmental issues would be highly beneficial. 

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Kirk Martinez (km@ecs.soton.ac.uk) 

Equality, diversity and Inclusion is central to the ethos in the School of Electronics and Computer Science. We particularly encourage women, Black, Asian and minority ethnic, LGBT and disabled applicants to apply for this position. We are committed to improving equality for women in science and have been successful in achieving an Athena SWAN bronze award in April 2020. We give full consideration to applicants that wish to work flexibly including part-time and due consideration will be given to applicants who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy*, onsite childcare facilities

 The University of Southampton is in the top 1% of world universities and in the top 10 of the UK’s research-intensive universities. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university and has recently been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.  This commits all of our staff and students to take responsibility for managing their activities to minimise harm to the environment.

 *subject to qualifying criteria

 Application Procedure 

You should submit your completed online application form at https://jobs.soton.ac.uk. The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need any assistance, please call Lauren Ward (Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 23 8059 2750, or email recruitment@soton.ac.uk. Please quote reference 1824922FP on all correspondence