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SHAPE-5 Smart System Architectures for Industry 5.0: A Human-Centred Approach to IoT Integration to Support Worker Experience and Process Efficiency

Doctoral Training Grant Funding Information 

This funding model includes a 36 month fully funded PhD Studentship, set in-line with UK Research & Innovation values. For 2025/6, this will be £20,780 per year. The tax-free stipend will be paid monthly. This PhD Studentship also includes a Full-Time Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years. The funding is subject to your continued registration on the research degree, making satisfactory progression within your PhD, as well as attendance on and successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice.    

All applicants will receive the same stipend irrespective of fee status. 

Application Closing Date: 


Midday (UK Time) on Wednesday 17th September 2025 for a start date of 2nd February 2026.  

How to Apply 

To apply, please follow the below steps:  

  1. Complete the BCU Online Application Form. 
  2. Complete the Doctoral Studentship Proposal Form in full, ensuring that you quote the project ID. You will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement on the BCU online application form.  
  3. Upload two references to your online application form (at least one of which must be an academic reference). 
  4. Upload your qualification(s) for entry onto the research degree programme. This will be Bachelor/Master’s certificate(s) and transcript(s). 
  5. International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification. Please see the list of English language qualifications accepted here. Please check the individual research degree course page for the required scores. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

To help support you to complete your application, please consult the frequently asked questions below: 

Project title: SHAPE-5 Smart System Architectures for Industry 5.0: A Human-Centred Approach to IoT Integration to Support Worker Experience and Process Efficiency

Project Lead: ​​Dr Waldo Cervantes​ 

Project ID: ​​23 - 46468992​ 

Project description:

​​The manufacturing sector is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the proliferation of smart technologies and the emergence of more adaptive, interconnected production systems. Central to this shift is the conceptual evolution from Industry 4.0 characterised by automation, data integration, and cyber-physical systems (Aneiba et al, 2018), towards Industry 5.0, which prioritises human-centric innovation, meaningful collaboration between humans and machines, and the sustainable integration of technology into daily operational practices (Xu et al, 2021). In this paradigm, technological advancement cannot be seen in isolation: systems must also be intuitive, adaptable, and grounded in the practical realities of those interacting with them. 

​The shift toward Industry 5.0 emphasises human-centric innovation, integrating smart technologies with worker well-being, collaboration, improved decision-making and appropriation. As outlined in Innovate UK’s strategic priorities and the Made Smarter initiative, digital adoption, especially among SMES, is vital for boosting productivity and economic resilience. However, successful implementation relies on systems that workers can trust, understand, and adopt. This project proposes the development of SHAPE-5: Smart Human-centred Architectures for Process Efficiency. By combining IoT, adaptive interfaces, and HCI design, SHAPE-5 aims to create intelligent, inclusive systems that empower workers, support SME innovation, and advance the UK’s goals for sustainable, people-focused industrial growth. 

​​This PhD aims to develop a new approach for designing and implementing human-centred system architectures for industrial environments, placing human experience and human-machine collaboration at the core of technical design (Cervantes-Solis and Baber, 2017). It focuses on moving beyond automation-focused paradigms and instead designing Smart Human-centred Architectures for Process Efficiency (SHAPE-5), aligned with the guiding principles of Industry 5.0.

​The project will investigate how intelligent systems rooted in Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and human-centred design guidelines can improve effective, seamless collaboration between human operators and automated systems while enhancing well-being, decision-making, autonomy, and productivity on the factory floor. It will address the transition from automation-centric systems to collaborative, human-oriented infrastructures. The central premise is that technological advancement in the industrial sector must increase productivity and support workers' cognitive, physical, and emotional needs in complex operational environments. 

Anticipated findings and contributions to knowledge:

  • ​​Responding to the Needs of Industry 5.0: Current systems often prioritise technical optimisation at the expense of user experience. This research will address that imbalance by proposing architectures that integrate technological sophistication with genuine human-centric values. 
  • ​Worker Empowerment and System Legitimacy: A system that adapts to and supports its human users is more likely to be adopted and retained. SHAPE-5 aims to enhance both worker productivity and autonomy, generating new models for sustainable human-machine partnerships. 
  • ​Interdisciplinary Innovation: The proposed work intersects industrial systems engineering, human-computer interaction, cognitive ergonomics, and organisational behaviour. It will encourage cross-disciplinary approaches to future system design, bridging technical and humanistic disciplines. 
  • ​Practical Impact and Scalability: Outcomes of this research can be directly applied to modern manufacturing, logistics, and production environments. By focusing on real-time adaptation, usability, and IoT integration, SHAPE-5 will offer a scalable model suitable for diverse industrial contexts. 
  • ​Performance: Develop qualitative and quantitative performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of SHAPE-5 in live or simulated industrial settings, capturing improvements in process efficiency and user satisfaction. 
  • Empirical Contribution to Design Practice: The research will generate empirical insights into system use and worker engagement, contributing to design best practices for future smart environments that are both efficient and humane. 

By advancing the understanding and implementation of human-centred technologies in industrial contexts, this project aims to establish SHAPE-5 as a benchmark for Industry 5.0-ready system design, supporting environments in which technology and the human workforce are co-dependent, responsive, and mutually beneficial. 

Person Specification:

This PhD studentship aims to develop intelligent, inclusive system architectures that prioritise both operational efficiency and human well-being. Drawing on Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, adaptive interfaces, and human-computer interaction (HCI) principles, the project seeks to reshape how smart systems are designed, evaluated, and implemented in industrial settings—particularly within SMEs. 

The successful candidate will play a leading role in investigating how smart technologies can support sustainable productivity, enhance worker autonomy, and create responsive human-machine partnerships. 

 Entry Requirements: 

  • To apply for our Computing PhD Research Degree you should have, or expect to be awarded, a Master’s degree in a relevant subject area from a British or overseas university.   

  • Exceptional candidates without a Master’s degree, but holding a first class or upper second class Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area, may be considered.   

  • We also welcome enquiries from potential PhD researchers with appropriate levels of professional experience.  

Essential Criteria:  

  • A demonstrable interest in human-centred system design, digital transformation, or smart manufacturing. 

  • Understanding of IoT technologies and digital transformation. 

  • Competence with tools such as MATLAB, Python, R, or similar for data collection and analysis. 

  • Familiarity with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, including user studies, ethnographic observation, systems modelling, or usability evaluation. 

  • Strong analytical skills, with the ability to engage critically with interdisciplinary research. 

  • An ability to work independently and collaboratively across technical and human-centred domains. 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. 

Desirable Criteria: 

  • Prior experience in manufacturing or industrial systems, either in academic or professional settings. 

  • Understanding of embedded systems, or cyber-physical infrastructures. 

  • Knowledge of design thinking, participatory design, or ergonomics. 

  • Experience working with SMEs or in applied innovation contexts. 

  • Awareness of UK policy agendas relating to digital transformation, such as Made Smarter or Innovate UK programmes. 

Overseas applicants:

International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification, such as International English Language Test System (IELTS) or equivalent with an overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0.

Additional information:

This PhD studentship offers the opportunity to engage with real-world challenges at the forefront of industrial innovation. The candidate will benefit from supervision within a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment and will have opportunities for industry collaboration, conference participation, and training in advanced research methods. The project is directly aligned with UKRI priorities and offers potential impact across academic, industrial, and policy sectors.​ 

Contact:

If you have any questions or need further information, please use the contact details below: 

- For enquiries about the funding or project proposal, please contact: waldo.cervantes@bcu.ac.uk​ 

- For enquiries about the application process, please contact:research.admissions@bcu.ac.uk