PhD Scholarship in Intelligent Cloud-Native Sustainability Platform
London South Bank University | LSBU Business School | London, UK
• Start Date: September 2025
• Funding: Full tuition fee waiver for 4 years (no stipend)
• Eligibility: Open to UK and international applicants
• Reference: CSP5/BUS (quote in all correspondence)
• Deadline for Expression of Interest: 20 June 2025
• Location: LSBU Business School, London
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Project Overview
Join a cutting-edge research project to develop Carbon Awareness as a Service (CAaaS)—a platform integrating real-time carbon monitoring, predictive analytics, and adaptive scheduling to help industries reduce emissions without compromising productivity.
The project includes:
• Real-time telemetry, region-specific emissions visualisation, and dashboards
• AI-powered forecasting and optimisation for energy-intensive workload scheduling
• Subscription-based models, carbon-credit integration, and ethical data sharing via distributed ledgers
• A cloud-native, event-driven platform designed for continuous improvement through pilot studies
This research is positioned at the intersection of AI, green computing, and cloud systems, advancing both environmental goals and operational efficiency.
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Research Themes
• Real-time emissions telemetry and visual analytics
• Forecasting and prescriptive optimisation for carbon-aware scheduling
• Secure, auditable data pipelines and carbon-credit integration
• Policy alignment and lifecycle assessment for sustainable digital operations
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Ideal Candidate Profile
• First-class undergraduate and Merit/Distinction MSc degree in Computer Science, Software, or Electrical/Electronic Engineering
• Strong background in AI/ML and optimisation (e.g. MILP)
• Knowledge of distributed systems, OS scheduling, virtualisation
• Programming fluency in C++, Java, or C# and Linux scripting
• Research potential (e.g. thesis, publications)
• IELTS 7.0 minimum (no sub-score <7) for international applicants
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How to Apply
1. Expression of Interest: Email the following to Dr Kasra Kassai (kasra.kassai@lsbu.ac.uk) with the subject line: CSP5/BUS
• CV
• Summary of academic background and relevant experience
• Motivation paragraph for applying to this PhD
2. Formal Application:
• Submit your application through the LSBU portal
• Include a 1,000-word research proposal aligned with this project
• Upload your personal statement, qualifications, and CV
• Selected candidates will be invited for an online interview
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis – early submission recommended
Note: This is a fee-waiver only scholarship. Applicants must self-fund living costs, visa, and associated expenses.
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Supervision
• Primary Supervisor: Dr Kasra Kassai
• Second Supervisor: Professor Ian Mackie
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Why Choose LSBU
• Member of Business & Economics Insight Research Group
• Member of Smart Internet Technologies Hub (SITHub)
• Member of Data x Digital Research Centre
• Ranked #3 globally for reducing inequalities (THE Impact Rankings 2024)
• Highest paid graduates among London modern universities (LEO 2024)
• Doctoral training support via London Doctoral College
• Located in London – QS Best Student City (six years in a row)
“The passion of the individuals in the research environment and the commitment that everyone shows is inspiring.”
— Ashley Howard, PhD, LSBU
