PhD Research and Training Positions

Fantastic PhD Opportunities
Join the Net Zero Aviation-CDT and Transform the Future of Aviation

Great Industry Funded & Innovative PhD Research in:
Novel Aircraft & Propulsion Systems
Dynamic Performance of Future Engines
High Speed Aerodynamics
Cryogenic Fuel Systems & Storage
Cryogenic Fuel Systems & Storage
Cryogenic Electric Machines
Cryogenic Electric Machines Electrified Systems and Ice Protection Systems
SAF & Thermal Management Technologies
Autonomous Airframe Structures Health Monitoring

We are offering

• 25K per annum Tax Free Bursary
• £9K for International & National Conferences
• 3 month Industrial Placement
• Fully Paid Fees
• Net Zero Aviation Focused Technical & Leadership Development
• Access to State of the Art Facilities
• World Class Research Teams

Further information and applications here.

University of Warwick

About the role

The School of Engineering at the University of Warwick has advertised an Assistant or Associate Professor position in AI-accelerated Mesoscale Materials Modelling, in the Predictive Modelling Cluster. The remit covers mesoscale and continuum methods – for example crystal plasticity, phase-field modelling, discrete dislocation dynamics, and finite element methods – applied to grain boundaries, defects and dislocations and their effects on the mechanical, electrical, thermal or optical properties of materials. We are equally interested in candidates working on structural and engineering materials (e.g. for advanced manufacturing, defence, energy) and on electronic and optical materials. We are particularly interested in AI-accelerated approaches that strengthen mesoscale modelling itself – surrogate models, data-centric engineering, Bayesian uncertainty quantification. The post is on the Research and Teaching pathway, indefinite, with an earliest start date of 1 August 2026.

About the cluster

The Predictive Modelling Cluster comprises four research groups – Statistical Foundations, Multiscale Materials, Quantum Devices, and Connected Systems – and hosts the EPSRC HetSys Centre for Doctoral Training, the Warwick Centre for Predictive Modelling (WCPM), and the MSc in Predictive Modelling and Scientific Computing. The cluster has strong atomistic and quantum-scale activity and is deliberately recruiting at the meso/continuum interface.

How to apply

For full details and to apply, please follow this link: https://warwick-careers.tal.net/vx/appcentre-ext/brand-4/spa-1/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/3/opp/4171-Assistant-or-Associate-Professor-AI-Accelerated-Mesoscale-Materials-Modelling-111587-0526/en-

GB

Closing date: 21 June 2026.

More Information

For informal enquiries, please contact Prof James Kermode (j.r.kermode@warwick.ac.uk).

Loughborough University

Project Objectives

Loughborough University offers a 3-year fully funded PhD position to work on an exciting project that is part of the prestigious Loughborough University Vice Chancellor’s PhD Cluster – Diverse Research in Inclusive Vehicle Environments Research Cluster (DRIVE-RC). The successful PhD candidate will join a cohort of five students who will be working on different multidisciplinary aspects of inclusivity within vehicular environments and will be supported by Loughborough’s Transportation AI Innovation Centre .

How to apply

For more information and application, please see here .

University of Warwick

Project Objectives

The PhD project focuses on developing computational models to better understand material failure under dynamic loading, particularly in ductile fractures. Using phase-field techniques, it will explore processes such as strain localisation, void growth, and crack propagation. AI-driven tools will support efficient parameter calibration and uncertainty quantification, ensuring improved accuracy and practical applications in engineering.

Outcomes

• Developed a phase-field model for simulating high-rate ductile fractures under dynamic loading conditions.
• Enhanced understanding of the interplay between strain localisation, void formation, and crack propagation.
• Developed AI-enhanced tools for efficient parameter calibration and uncertainty quantification.
• Continuum mechanics theory.
• AI and machine learning fundamentals for scientific applications.
• Programming for scientific computing (e.g., Python, C++/Fortran).

Skills that the student will acquire

• Continuum mechanics theory.
• AI and machine learning fundamentals for scientific applications.
• Programming for scientific computing (e.g., Python, C++/Fortran).

How to apply

For full details of the funding available and how to apply follow this link. This is an open-ended deadline and will close upon identification of a suitable student.

More Information

For more information contact Dr Emmanouil Kakouris (Emmanouil.Kakouris@warwick.ac.uk)

University of Leicester

Description of the 4-year PhD project

Siemens Healthineers is a global leading company in the manufacture of MRI magnets. A key challenge for the company is the generation of ghosting artefacts that arise as part of the imaging process. These artefacts present challenges for medical professionals attempting to draw diagnoses from the images. The ghosting artefacts arise due to the strong uniform magnetic field across the bore of the magnet being disturbed by eddy currents and mechanical vibrations of the conducting components of the scanner. Current processes to remove the effects are based on post-processing the images, but with the move towards more sustainable magnet designs, predicting the field perturbations and understanding how to account for them has become very challenging.

The aim of this PhD is to develop a computational tool for predicting field inhomogeneities across the bore of the MRI imaging region and to understand how this can be used as part of the imaging process to minimise ghosting. The research also aligns with our wider developing research activities on predictive digital twins.

The methodology of the PhD will be as follows

1. Gain a good physical understanding of the physical engineering processes in the design and build of MRI scanners.

2. Understand the suite of current computational tools developed by Ledger and Gil to predict magneto-mechanical coupling in MRI scanners and extend this software to predict complex situations in 3D and apply reduced order models for computational efficiency.

3. Build on existing software bases that lead to tools that can be used by industry by working effectively with software libraries.

4. Gain familiarity with current techniques used for removing ghosting effects and how these could benefit from the additional insights provided by an accurate prediction of the field inhomogeneities across the bore of the MRI imaging region.

As well as the outstanding opportunities for collaboration with teams of engineers, computer scientists and mathematicians at the University of Leicester, the PhD student will have the opportunity to collaborate with the teams of computational engineering researchers at the Zienkiewicz Institute for Modelling and AI, Swansea University and with the industrial supervisor at Siemens Heathineers Magnet Technology. The expected start date is September 2025. Funding is available for UK applicants.

How to apply

For full details of the funding available and how to apply follow this link and then click on “Apply Mathematics PhD”. Deadline for applications is 31st January 2025.

More Information

For more information contact Prof Paul D. Ledger (pdl11@leicester.ac.uk)

University of Warwick

HetSys is an EPSRC-supported Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) which trains people to challenge current state-of-the-art in computational modelling of heterogeneous, real-world systems across a range of research themes spanning quantum, atomistic and continuum models of materials and molecules. The HetSys team are now recruiting a new cohort of enthusiastic students from across the physical sciences who enjoy using their mathematical skills and thinking flexibly to solve complex problems to join our EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems at the University of Warwick, UK. Our exciting range of new PhD projects for Oct 2025 can be found on our webpage.

HetSys is built around a closely knit, highly collaborative team of academics from science departments across Warwick (including Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Statistics and the Warwick Manufacturing Group) at Warwick. With its project partners HetSys is developing talented, energetic PhD students to push boundaries in this exciting field. The students will inspire new ideas, approaches and innovation and become future leaders in developing new technologies.

Full funding is available for 10+ candidates, including those who meet the required UK residency criteria plus a small number of international students.  We require at least a 2(i) honours degree at BSc or an integrated masters degree (e.g. MPhys, MChem, MSci, MEng etc.) in a physical sciences, mathematics or engineering discipline. PhD duration is 4 years including the training programme which runs over the first 2 years with a gradual transition from fully training to fully research. The studentships pay a stipend to cover maintenance as well as paying the university fees and research training support. The stipend is at the standard UKRI rate (for 2024/25 that is £19,237), and all fees plus a research training support grant including a generous travel budget and HPC access are also fully funded.

The first-round deadline for all applicants is 20 January 2025. Interviews will be held on 12 February 2025.