The EPSRC Digital Design Network Plus (D2N+) is appointing a Case Study Co-Lead to take responsibility for developing, managing and monitoring an engineering Digital Design Challenge Case Study which will be undertaken by teams drawn from network members across the UK. 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. The Case Study Leads will be responsible for defining the Challenge Case Study, managing the call for researchers/participants, oversight of Challenge Case Study awards and reporting findings at the end. We anticipate there being approximately 15 awards for this case study, comprising 3 or 4 teams.

The Digital Design Network Plus (D2N+) is one of six networks funded to address Tomorrow’s Engineering Research Challenges (TERC). The TERC report highlighted the opportunities that will be created if the deep-rooted strengths in engineering (and science) disciplines were reimagined to transform how we approach complex systemic and interrelated challenges. D2N+ was established to create an active digital design community that will define, set and prioritize key Engineering Design challenges and viable solution pathways that will exploit digital design technologies and help UK engineering transition to net zero faster. The founding partners in the network are Queen’s University Belfast, University of Bristol, University of Strathclyde and University of Sheffield.

A key objective of the network is to assemble a diverse and inclusive community of practice in engineering digital design and grow it through a shared endeavour of tackling a series of Design Challenges. Through solving these challenges, together, we want to demonstrate that we can design:

Faster – compressing the overall process and exploring more of the design space in depth.

Better – creating products and systems that better meet customer needs, while better addressing societal challenges and satisfying constraints of existing infrastructure & systems.

With less – reducing design effort and resources, and the footprint of the product’s lifecycle.

The call is open to early and mid-career academics who have not yet reached Professorial status, and who are eligible to receive EPSRC funding.

The Challenge Case Study Co-Lead will:

• Work constructively with the other Challenge Case Study Co-Lead
• Work with network partners to define the details of the Challenge Case Study
• Manage the call for researchers to solve the Case Study challenges
• Help assemble the researcher teams from the funded researchers
• Keep in contact with funded researchers to solve the case studies
• Attend the Digital Design Network Plus workshops 2 and 3 (workshop 2 will be in Glasgow from 24-25 February 2026. Dates for workshop 3 will be arranged in consultation with the case study leads)
• 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 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).

Applications from Universities outside of the four core partners are particularly encouraged.

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 lead.

Please note that due to the nature of the role, funding for equipment is not eligible. 

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 Challenge Case Study 2 Co-Lead  Application Form , as part of the application we ask that you also upload your CV (link provided within 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

Proposals must be submitted by 4pm Friday 26 September 2025. The D2N+ team will acknowledge receipt of each proposal and assign a unique number.