STEM Research

AES STEM Research Programmes offer students the opportunity to engage in exciting, hands-on research across a variety of fields, including Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences, Computer and Information Sciences, Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, and more. Students work under the guidance of a research mentor, collaborate with top researchers, and present their findings. These programmes provide academically challenging experiences, helping students develop critical thinking and research skills while immersing them in diverse cultural environments. AES STEM research placements offer ideal preparation for undergraduates considering graduate research programmes, combining rigorous academic work with valuable cultural exposure and professional growth.

An example of one such placement is the Immersive Digital Healthcare Training programme, run in partnership with the University of Salford.

About the programme:

Build empathy through technology. In this team-based research residency, you’ll design a creative storytelling tool that helps relatives, friends, and healthcare professionals understand the lived experience of a medical or mental health condition. You’ll prototype with AI, game engines, motion capture, and projection-mapped worlds, and present your concept to healthcare professionals and creative technologists.

What you’ll do:

• AI-powered story design: Use generative AI, dialogue/NLP tooling, and ethical prompt workflows to script branching narratives and reflective prompts.
• Immersive production: Prototype in Unity/Unreal; integrate live motion capture, volumetric video, and spatial audio to create presence.
• Simulation for training: Align scenarios with competencies used in clinical simulations; design feedback loops and assessment rubrics.
• Responsible innovation: Address data privacy, bias, accessibility, and trauma-informed design.
• Pitch + critique: Deliver a final pitch and demo to healthcare stakeholders and creative tech faculty for expert feedback.

Facilities you’ll access:

Simulation Suite (Health & Society); Motion Capture Lab; Digital Media Performance Lab; Fabrication & Digital Labs; TV/Radio Studios (access tailored to project needs).

Learning outcomes:

• Design and evaluate AI-driven, immersive training tools for healthcare contexts
• Practical skills in game engines, mocap pipelines, projection mapping, and rapid prototyping
• Research grounding in HCI, simulation-based education, and mental health communication
• Portfolio-ready demo + one-page technical/ethics brief suitable for internships or grad applications

Who should join:

• Engineering, Computer Science, AI/HCI — applying technical skills to human-centred challenges
• Health Sciences, Psychology, Social Work — new methods for engagement and training
• Theatre, Media, Digital Arts — storytelling with cutting-edge immersive tech

Ideal for US students seeking UK-based, impact-driven research at the intersection of AI, design, and healthcare. To learn more about other programmes, please contact us.