The Challenge Case Study Co-Leads will:

• Work collaboratively with the other Challenge Case Study Co-Leads
• Work with network partners to define the details of the Challenge Case Study 3
• Manage the call for researchers to solve the Case Study challenge
• Help assemble the researcher teams from the applicants
• Keep in contact with researchers funded to solve the case study
• Attend the Digital Design Network Plus workshops 3 and 4 (Workshop 3 will be in Sheffield on 1^st and 2^nd December 2026 and workshop 4 will be in Belfast from 30 November to 2 December 2027.)
• Report on the solutions and findings of the Challenge Case study
• Attend Digital Design Network Plus management meetings, while the Case Study is active, to report on progress

Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate the following essential experiences:

• Leadership and management experience and potential/willingness.
• Experience in Engineering Design, Digital Technologies and Digital Design.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholder groups, ideally those listed in the network (RTOs, software vendors, end-users and academic communities).

Digital Design: Challenge 3 – Design in a heavily regulated industry

Challenge Case Study 3 focuses on demonstrating how digital design can be ‘Faster and Better with Less’ within heavily regulated environments. To align with our sister TERC network, 4D Healthcare Technologies, this challenge centres on medical device design. We are seeking innovative thinkers from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Whether your expertise lies in biomedical engineering, software development, industrial design, or any other digital or engineering field, we want to hear from you. Previous experience with medical devices is completely optional. We are looking for fresh perspectives and transferable skills.

Funding of up to £50,000 is available at standard EPSRC rates (i.e. 80% of FEC (max award £40,000)) to cover academic staff time, consumables and travel. Funding for Research Assistant time or PhD students is not available. This funding should cover all costs associated with travel you anticipate carrying out as part of the role, including attending the network workshops devoted to reviewing the solutions to the Case Study being led.

Additional funding is available for PDRA support, which will be provided to the Co-Lead team once it is appointed.

The call is open to all UK academics whose institutions are eligible to receive EPSRC funding. Due to the responsibilities of the role candidates should ideally be mid-career and should not be at Professorial level.

Please complete the Case Study 3 Co-Lead Application Form

D2N+ is fully committed to supporting and promoting EDI in all its practices and activities. We aim to establish an inclusive environment and welcome diverse applications from all protected characteristics. We particularly encourage applications from women, as this cohort is under-represented in engineering across academia and industry.  

Successful applications will be required to enter into a legal binding agreement with Queen’s University Belfast that will incorporate the UK Research and Innovation standard terms and conditions of the grant.

The data you provide will be utilized and deleted in alignment with GDPR requirements.

Applicants are asked to consult their university’s research office ahead of submitting a proposal to this call, to be clear of the requirements for meeting the deadlines set out in this document. The award is contractually and financially from Queen’s University Belfast to the University in question.  

If you have further questions, please e-mail: digitaldesignnetwork@qub.ac.uk

Applications must be submitted by 4pm 31 July 2026. The D2N+ team will acknowledge receipt of each application.