CDT in Sensor Technologies and Applications for a Healthy and Sustainable Future

The Sensor CDT provides student-centred training to educate future leaders in sensor innovation through the provision of a structured programme of taught courses and research in enabling technologies (e.g. optical imaging technology, sensor hardware, MEMS, open source technology, physical principles of sensing, sensor interfacing and middleware, data processing) during the first year of the programme. Students undertake research mini-projects offered by the over 50 academics connected Sensor CDT. Mini-projects last 12 weeks, have to be interdisciplinary in character and bridge across at least two departments. Crucially the student cohort collectively tackle a sensor design project as a team challenge, similar in nature to, but more extensive than, current student design projects on the Engineering and Chemical Engineering undergraduate syllabi. The purpose is to design and develop, from concept to application, a fully working sensor system. In the final phase of the first year, students develop, in collaboration with their chosen supervisors, an individual PhD research project which they will pursue during years 2-4 of the programme. Importantly, the projects are cross disciplinary, involve at least two supervisors from two different Cambridge departments and/or industry. More than 70 academics and 20 industrial as well as institutional partners participate in the programme, offering the students maximal choice.