The Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships programme has announced 17 new awardees, including one Associate Research Fellow, Alistair Bounds who has recently joined Occuity as a Senior Research Scientist. He will be engaging in a four-year project that is geared toward healthcare technologies of the future and how the healthcare market is expected to evolve.
The project, to be undertaken at Occuity, will look at ocular imaging for chronic and systemic disease assessment, with the aim being to build two prototype retinal imaging systems that will allow the detection of signature markers of chronic and systemic disease. The two systems will open up a new area for Occuity in targeting retinal imaging in a way that is highly complementary to the company’s existing programme of innovative research.
The Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships support early-career researchers to establish successful research careers and become future research leaders in their fields. The scheme provides funding for five years to allow awardees the freedom to concentrate on basic research in any field of engineering and establish a track record in the field.
The engineering research supported by the latest fellowships addresses a range of new applications of AI and machine learning, health and medical care, energy supplies and power generation, as well as environmental safety and sustainability. Other projects include data security and high-performance laser technology.
Now in its 21st year, the Research Fellowships programme supports outstanding early-career researchers to become future research leaders in engineering. The fellowships are designed to advance excellence in engineering by providing funding for five years to allow awardees the freedom to concentrate on basic research in any field of engineering. This year the value of the awards has been increased to offer up to £625,000 over five years.
In addition to direct financial support, the scheme provides an opportunity to establish a research track record and, in turn, to be in a stronger position to apply for additional funding and grow a research team. Awardees also benefit from mentoring support from an Academy Fellow on research and career development as well as reduced teaching and administrative duties to allow time for research, training opportunities and networking with other Research Fellows and Academy Fellows.
To learn more about the exciting project that Alistair Bounds will be leading, check out this blog post.