About this role
Award Summary
100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate). Additional project costs will also be provided.
Overview
How can we revolutionise intelligent systems that still rely on fixed rules and structured commands?
For example, if asked to “pick up the red book on the shelf,” a traditional robot would need the exact location and object details programmed in advance. If anything changes, it may fail.
This project explores how to build more adaptable systems using vision-language-action (VLA) models. These combine computer vision (to see), natural language understanding (to interpret instructions), and action generation (to respond), enabling robots to perceive, reason and act flexibly.
The models will be trained on simulated datasets to learn general behaviours, then fine-tuned for specific tasks. The aim is to create intelligent agents that could demonstrate human-like understanding and adaptability if applied to real-world scenarios.
Number Of Awards
1
Start Date
1st October 2026
Award Duration
4 Years
Application Closing Date
18th February 2026
Sponsor
EPSRC
Supervisors
Dr Shidong Wang
Professor Nick Wright
Eligibility Criteria
We are adopting a contextual admissions process. This means we will consider other key competencies and experience alongside your academic qualifications. An example can be found here.
A minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project is our standard entry, however we place value on prior experience, enthusiasm for research, and the ability to think and work independently. Excellent Analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements. A Masters qualification may not be required if you have a minimum 2:1 degree or can evidence alternative experience in a work or research-based project. If you have alternative qualifications or experience, please contact us to discuss flexibilities and request an exemption.
Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills. International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme.
How To Apply
For information on how to apply, please see Postgraduate Funding Search | Newcastle University
Contact Details
Shidong Wang ([email protected]) You can also contact: [email protected] for independent advice on your application.