Mini projects at the EPSRC CDT in Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems, University of Oxford

During your first year you will complete two 10-12 week mini-projects.

The objectives of the mini projects are: 

• to give each student experience in undertaking a small research project, one which could seed or turn into a substantive DPhil project.
• by undertaking two projects, with different supervisors (and normally different academic departments), to ensure that each student explores some diversity of topic, before settling on their substantive research.
• to provide a means by which the CDT and partner organizations (companies, government departments, etc.) can develop relationships – whether leading to support for a DPhil project or some other engagement.
• by providing students with a menu of projects, to shape the overall research of the CDT according to the original proposal and subsequent guidance from the Advisory Panel.
• to put potential academic supervisors from within the University in touch with the group of CDT students, giving an opportunity to explore potential research ideas of mutual interest.

A good project will: 

• provide worthwhile results, leading to a written report (ideally, publishable at an academic research workshop) within the 10-12 weeks allotted.
• be based on a realistic problem or challenge.
• be substantially an individual piece of work (collaborative work with other students or supporters etc. is possible, but the student’s contribution should be clearly defined and measurable).
• build upon, but not be constrained by, the content of and skills learned in the taught courses in the CDT.
• have an enthusiastic supporter/mentor from an external organization and active engagement of a supervisor in the University.
• be capable of extension into a bigger project, motivate a bigger project, or (if necessary) demonstrate the infeasibility of an intended bigger project.

You will be required to undertake ONE of your mini projects with an industry partner (if enough projects are offered).  This project will be co-supervised by an academic member of the CDT. Some projects will have a Department of the University in the role of supporter (i.e., defining a problem domain, but not necessarily providing academic supervision of the student’s work).  The mini project can also be taken as an internship, but this has to be with one of the Industry Partners associated with the CDT.

Each theme has a Champion whose role is to help to solicit project proposals, match academic supervisors and external partners, and ensure wide coverage.