The PhD Journey so far...

My PhD project, entitled ‘Robust Video Tracking in Difficult Environments’, focuses on developing automated tracking systems for airborne objects under challenging conditions, such as poor lighting and complex backgrounds. An area of interest within my research is investigating the fundamental limits of tracking performance across varying resolutions and frame rates. Through this work, I have gained valuable experience in the operation and limitations of electro-optical and infrared systems, while also significantly enhancing my image processing skills. The industry partnership with Thales has allowed me to gain deeper insights into the broader applications of algorithms and my research, through our monthly meetings. The outcomes of this research will be impactful, with potential applications across several industries such as security, healthcare, sports analytics, disaster management, and environmental monitoring.

Earlier this year, I attended a conference at which I took part in the Early Careers Challenge (ECC), which provided a unique opportunity to engage in system design—a rarity in academia. Through the ECC, I gained an insight into how industry approaches problem-solving. It was a great experience to collaborate and network with young professionals in industry. The challenge deepened my understanding of concepts such as literature review, work breakdown structure, stakeholder engagement, and PIPE (Process, Information, People, and Equipment) analysis.

Despite the Hub being in its early stages, I have attended several Hub events hosted by the University of Southampton, QinetiQ, and Imperial College London, with an upcoming event at the University of Strathclyde. The event at Southampton provided a valuable opportunity for in-person introductions with my fellow students, which is significant given that the Hub spans multiple universities across the UK. At the preliminary event at Southampton, we were offered a clear overview of the Hub’s mission and introduced to the key contributors behind its development. The visit to QinetiQ introduced us to more stakeholders, particularly our hosts, and was an excellent, low-pressure introduction to networking. Finally, at Imperial, the students had the opportunity to perform a short presentation on an area that’s relevant to the Hub to develop our public speaking skills and confidence.

This PhD journey has introduced me to industry and what opportunities are available to me in a digestible and structured way. Although the PhD journey is filled with challenges that I am learning to overcome, it is more of a marathon than a sprint, and I am steadily developing the technical and soft skills that will be invaluable for my future.

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