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
⸻
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.
⸻
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
⸻
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
⸻
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.
⸻
Supervision
•Primary Supervisor: Dr Kasra Kassai
•Second Supervisor: Professor Ian Mackie
⸻
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