Applications accepted all year round
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
The BASP Laboratory at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, led by Professor Yves Wiaux, invites applications for a fully funded PhD to develop next-generation image reconstruction algorithms leveraging deep learning and Agentic AI to enable diagnostic-quality imaging with low-field MRI, contributing to the democratisation of medical imaging worldwide.
The PhD project
Computational imaging reconstructs high-quality images from incomplete, noisy or indirect measurements, underpinning major imaging modalities across medicine, astronomy, defence and Earth observation.
Supported by major projects funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Royal Society, the BASP Laboratory conducts research spanning mathematical foundations, algorithms and applications, with a particular focus on interferometric imaging in radio astronomy, and MRI and ultrasound in medicine.
This PhD project will develop advanced image reconstruction algorithms for low-field MRI. Scanners operating at low magnetic fields are generally more affordable and portable than cutting-edge high-field systems, offering the potential to expand access to MRI. However, their lower signal-to-noise ratio and reduced data quality make it challenging to obtain images of sufficient quality for clinical diagnosis.
By harnessing AI to extract more information from the low-quality data acquired by low-field MRI scanners, the project aims to advance diagnostic-quality imaging with low-cost systems and help democratise access to MRI, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and other settings where high-field scanners are inaccessible or unaffordable.
The research will combine the complementary strengths of deep learning and agentic AI to develop a new generation of intelligent reconstruction algorithms. Deep learning will provide powerful data-driven image representations and reconstruction capabilities, while agentic AI will enable specialised AI agents to work collaboratively, adapting reconstruction strategies to the data and imaging task at hand. Together, these approaches will support image estimation and uncertainty quantification, helping to recover high-quality images while assessing the reliability of the reconstructions.
An outstanding collaborative research environment
Professor Wiaux is a Professor in the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences and head of the BASP Laboratory at Heriot-Watt University, an Honorary Fellow of the University of Edinburgh's School of Informatics, and an Academic Guest at the Signal Processing Laboratories of EPFL in Lausanne.
The project benefits from an international network of leading collaborators, including Professor Ruud van Heeswijk at the Translational Magnetic Resonance Research Lab of the University of Lausanne, Professor Jean-Philippe Thiran at the Signal Processing Laboratories of EPFL, and Professor Jean-Christophe Pesquet at the Digital Vision Center of Paris-Saclay University.
The successful candidate will join the BASP Laboratory under Professor Wiaux's supervision, with opportunities for co-supervision by collaborators and engagement with international research in medical imaging and AI.
Candidate profile
We seek outstanding, highly motivated candidates with a first-class Master's degree, or equivalent, in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, computer science or a related discipline.
Candidates should have a strong interest in medical imaging and algorithmic research. Experience in MRI, machine learning, deep learning or image reconstruction would be particularly relevant.
Funding and how to apply
The PhD offers a fully funded 3.5-year scholarship, covering full tuition fees and a living stipend of approximately £22,000 per year, open to UK and international applicants. The start date is flexible within 2027.
To apply, email Professor Yves Wiaux at y.wiaux@hw.ac.uk with a single PDF containing a motivation letter outlining your research interests and suitability, your full academic transcript, your CV, and the names of two academic or professional referees.
Applications will be reviewed from November 2026 until the position is filled. Apply early to maximise your opportunity to be considered.