Royal Academy of Engineering AI research placements
SAINTS CDT is excited to collaborate with RoboStar Centre for Software Engineering for Robotics on a brand new programme (co-led by Ana Cavalcanti and Ibrahim Habli), in partnership with Google DeepMind and the Hg Foundation and with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering.
The programme will enable 12 undergraduate students facing socioeconomic barriers to embark on AI research placements. They’ll work together to assure the safety of AI systems and gain experience and knowledge to help enhance their research and progress into careers in AI.
We’ll be welcoming the students to York in Summer 2025. Find out more about the programme
SAINTS partnership with NATS
NATS, the UK’s leading provider of air traffic control services, is one of SAINTS partners. Research and Development Capability and Delivery Manager at NATS, Sarah Dow, shares why NATS are supporting the SAINTS CDT, explains the exciting future of AI and aviation, and why it’s integral that SAINTS postgraduate researchers maintain strong ties with industry partners.
Why was your organisation interested in supporting the SAINTS CDT?
Safety is fundamental to everything that NATS does. In a typical year, NATS handles 2.5M flights through UK airspace and the North Atlantic. Our future systems will increasingly look to leverage AI, so the ability to develop and assure AI-based elements of our safety critical systems will be essential.
The emphasis of the CDT on human-centred AI is crucial to NATS as we research ways of supporting Air Traffic Controllers with autonomous capabilities and continue to develop the human-AI teaming concept, an example of which we prototyped through the recent NATS-York collaborative WIZARD project.
Security is also a significant and increasing focus for air traffic management systems and the future platforms upon which these services are delivered will inevitably take advantage of distributed and cloud architectures that will need to be security assured. We are also very mindful of the need for responsible AI and this requires full engagement with our staff, especially our controllers.
Also, the emphasis of the CDT on safety assurance is vital as our systems need to be approved and are continually assessed to ensure and assure that we provide safe and effective services.
NATS is keen to ensure that the unique challenges of air traffic control are tackled through ongoing world-class research activities that have industrial applicability and real-world value. The SAINTS CDT clearly reflects our research interests, and we believe that the CDT will help to equip the next generation of professionals with the skills necessary to address the challenges of the safety of AI-enabled autonomous systems.
We also see SAINTS as offering an opportunity to continue our long-standing partnership between NATS and the University of York. Over the last 5 years, we have jointly undertaken projects that cover the design, development, validation and assurance of increased automation in complex safety-critical applications.
How do you see AI featuring in your organisation’s future?
NATS recognises the potential transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in air traffic management and there is ongoing research, innovation, and strategic partnerships to understand where we can safely integrate AI technology to enhance safety, efficiency and resilience.
AI-powered systems could optimise airspace utilisation, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Enhanced predictive capabilities could enable proactive management of traffic flows, mitigating delays and improving overall efficiency. AI technologies could also facilitate the integration of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) into existing airspace structures, ensuring safe and seamless integrated operations.
NATS already utilises machine learning and optimisation tools, as well as advanced route planning and airspace management technologies, to enable more precise aircraft trajectories. By analysing vast amounts of data in real-time, AI algorithms can further assist in predicting and mitigating potential conflicts, thereby enhancing safety standards. AI-powered decision support tools could also support controllers in making informed decisions by providing them with accurate and timely information.
Looking ahead, we expect further evolution in AI implementation. One key area of focus is to explore AI applications in collaborative decision-making to enhance situational awareness for controllers and human-machine collaboration.
We are actively investing in research and development, and collaborating with academic institutions and industry partners, in support of those future developments. Research efforts include investigating AI-driven automation techniques for routine tasks, enabling controllers to focus on higher-level decision-making and complex scenarios, and how AI could be validated, assured and implemented into an operational environment working in collaboration with human Air Traffic Controllers (human machine teaming).
Another key area of focus is on exploring trust, explainability and safety issues arising from the use of AI in air traffic management. Having recently established an AI Policy Group this is an issue we take extremely seriously. Safety is, and always will be, our number one priority, so any technology deployed into the operational environment must first and foremost be safety assured.
What do you enjoy most about your role in your organisation?
Working in Research and Development at NATS is highly enjoyable as it offers the opportunity to explore new ideas and push the boundaries of innovation. With such a complex, safety critical industry as airspace management, this provides additional challenge in ensuring that, whist pushing the boundaries, safety is at heart of everything we do.
I get much enjoyment through leading the team and collaborating with many other like-minded colleagues across many disciplines which helps to fuel creativity and provide fresh perspectives to ideas. The satisfaction of seeing a concept evolve from an initial idea to a tangible solution that can make a real-world impact adds a profound sense of accomplishment and purpose to the work I do.
What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?
One of the working achievements that I am most proud of is an example of seeing an idea through from initial concept into implementation. I managed a large European project within the SESAR Programme which looked at making arrivals and departures at airports more efficient and resilient by optimising the separation needed between aircraft. I led the work from initial concept design through to validation and acceptance as a NATS investment project.
It now forms part of the Intelligent Approach suite of adaptive controller tools that safely optimise arrival spacing for all conditions to maximise runway capacity, maintain operational resilience and provide better on-time performance. It was implemented at Heathrow in 2018 and since then at a number of other airports across the world.
What one piece of advice might you have for SAINTS postgraduate researchers?
My advice would be to stay in regular touch with industry partners, which I know is a core part of the SAINTS CDT. This is crucial, not just for bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world application but also helps to ensure that the research remains relevant and addresses tangible problems, whilst simultaneously opening doors to collaborative opportunities, resources, and potential career pathways. NATS R&D is really looking forward to continuing to work with the University of York through the SAINTS CDT to see what can be unlocked in advances of the lifelong safety in increasingly autonomous systems within our highly complex, safety critical industry.
Hear about what it’s like to apply for the SAINTS CDT programme from a current PhD researcher
Prenika Anand is one of the SAINTS CDT’s current postgraduate researchers. She began her journey back in September 2024 as one of the very first cohorts of the UK’s first multidisciplinary PhD programme focused solely on the safety of artificial intelligence (AI). Read about Prenika’s experience of the SAINTS CDT application process as she answers some frequently asked questions.
Did you have a particular research project in mind when you applied for SAINTS?
My broad research interests evolved over the two years before discovering SAINTS. My MSc (Master of Science) dissertation for Applied Digital Health at Oxford examined the effectiveness of digital health technologies in preventing social isolation in older adults. This led me to a subsequent research fellowship in exploring the intersections of ageing and technology and joining academic reading groups on AI safety. These developments were a precursor to seeking a PhD programme that would allow me to explore AI and ageism through an interdisciplinary lens, and SAINTS turned out to be the perfect fit.
What was the most challenging part about applying for a SAINTS PhD programme?
Before applying to SAINTS, I was unsure about finding an interdisciplinary programme that would truly support the blend of research interests I wanted to bring forward and learn. The SAINTS program description stood out to me as unlike any other I’d seen—almost like a tailor-made fit. This uniqueness made me eager yet I was nervous about proving my potential across the three selection stages, which naturally created some anxiety.
As an international student, I was also mindful of the challenges of securing full funding, as scholarships for PhD programmes are highly competitive. Now, looking back, I feel the process was well worth it. Upon reflection, what helped me with these challenges, was grounding my research questions in practical industry experience and academic learnings, and having a more informed approach to addressing why the SAINTS PhD programme could help uniquely explore them.
What was the most enjoyable part of your SAINTS recruitment process?
The three-stage recruitment process at SAINTS was a great learning and exploration for me, with feedback from the recruitment panel being valuable. I found it innovative that the selection began with an initial screening, followed by an expression of interest and research proposal stage, and finally, an interview and group assessment. This structure eased the usual pressure of gathering recommendations and consolidating academic records upfront, allowing me to focus first on my core research goals and questions as a prospective student.
A highlight for me was the orientation and tour of the ISA building on our interview day, supported by the amazing SAINTS staff members. That experience gave me a genuine sense of the programme’s values, the collaborative efforts of its stakeholders, and its potential as a globally unique programme in the safety of AI.
Did anything surprise you in your first few weeks in SAINTS?
There have been plenty of surprises, and continue to be. We had a wonderful welcome and induction, and a good lab and workspace in the wonderful ISA (Institute for Safe Autonomy) community to interact with. We have had our first month of interdisciplinary training, which has been very engaging and tailored for absolute beginners in those particular disciplines.
And lastly (I certainly hope this is not just a coincidence), the recruitment process has brought together a very diverse group of individuals in our cohort who also connect and bond well as people!
What one piece of advice would you give to anyone interested in applying for a SAINTS PhD?
From my experience, I can say that having a sense of purpose and practical work experience was invaluable in shaping my initial research question in AI safety and in recognizing the clear value this program brings in supporting it. It can be helpful to reflect on one’s own unique journey in understanding AI as part of their discipline and uncovering what aspect of AI safety and/or risks concerns them the most, and support it with critical thinking.