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  • Engineering PhD

Engineering PhD

As an Engineering PhD student at the 91¶¶Òõ you will be joining the prestigious Advanced Engineering Centre (AEC). The centre has its own dedicated building and enjoys an international reputation for producing innovative, future-facing research.

Here, we investigate and optimise complex thermofluid processes and develop laser-based measurement techniques, fundamental modelling and computational simulation and conduct engineering research across a range of areas including aeronautical, aerospace, electrical and manufacturing.

Together with our numerous industrial partners, we continually invest in facilities, equipment and our researchers to help us build new capabilities, refine our modelling and simulation methods and exploit fully our joint expertise.

We welcome students to work with us for their Engineering PhD and offer dedicated supervision together with hands-on opportunities to develop research that changes the future including 

Our research team collaborates with more than 40 academic institutions and 30 commercial companies, offering many opportunities for our PhD students to develop collaborations and build their international network.

Many of our graduates with a PhD in Engineering from the 91¶¶Òõ stay within academic research, predominantly by securing post-doctoral research positions or lecturing roles, both within UK and international institutes. Some of our graduates also work in Research & Development (R&D) departments for engineering companies.

For Civil engineering PhD please see our alternative page

 

Key information

As an Engineering PhD student at 91¶¶Òõ, you will benefit from:

  • a supervisory team comprising two and sometimes three members of academic staff. Depending on your research specialism you may also have an additional supervisor from another school, another research institution, or an external partner from government or industry. 
  • desk space and access to a desktop PC, either in one of the postgraduate offices on the 6th floor of the award-winning Cockcroft Building, or within the adjacent Huxley Building.  
  • access to a range of electronic resources via the University’s Online Library, as well as to the physical book and journal collections housed within the Aldrich Library and other campus libraries. 
  • various state-of-the-art research facilities on the Moulsecoomb site. 

Research themes

The 91¶¶Òõ boasts a world-leading Advanced Engineering Centre, and attracts research expertise, partnerships and funding from across the world as well as contributing to complex global engineering problems.

PhD students take an active role in a range of intellectual and social activities and the AEC gives you opportunities to present ‘work in progress’ and network with other researchers.  

The 91¶¶Òõ Doctoral College offer a training programme for postgraduate researchers, covering research methods and transferable (including employability) skills. Attendance at appropriate modules within this programme is encouraged, as is contribution to the Schools’ various seminar series. Academic and technical staff also provide more subject-specific training. 

The main focus of our Engineering research is to develop new knowledge for advanced energy systems and emerging technologies for ground and space applications. The scope of our research covers a number of fundamental, complimentary activities as outlined below:

  • Thermal propulsion systems - Significant improvements in the efficiency of thermal propulsion systems (e.g. engines), leading to more radical and disruptive approaches to conversion of heat into useful work.
  • Thermofluid processes - Exploration and characterisation of complex thermofluid processes, including fluid dynamics, mass and heat transfer. We use a unique combination of both simulation and experimental work to better understand the physics of flows, droplets and sprays, to allow faster and more robust optimisation and validation of new and improved products.
  • Heat management and energy storage - Design of heat transfer devices (e.g. heat exchangers, heat pipes and other two-phase systems) and energy storage systems, aiming to enhance efficiency of waste heat recovery systems, electronic cooling and renewable energy systems.

Beyond these core research areas many other engineering opportunities are available, including the study of educational technology, remanufacturing processes, magnetostrictive materials and acoustics.

Some of our supervisors

 

Profile photo for Dr Steven Begg

I am interested in supervising postgraduate research students in experimental thermofluids, powertrain engineering for future transportation, alternative fuels and advanced cycles, heat transfer, sprays, two-phase flows, laser and optical measurement techniques.

Current PhD students

Mr Zuhaib Nissar (2021-) - Sprays: Liquid Break-up and Droplet Distribution

Ms Aleksandra Skalba (2022-) - Universal Life Cycle Emissions Tool Applied to the EV's in Automotive Sector

Mr Ian Kemp (2022-) - Micropower Volumetric Machines as Energy Recovery Expanders in Two-phase Conditions

Profile photo for Dr Anastasios Georgoulas

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling and Experimental Characterisation of diabatic two-phase flows with phase change (pool boiling, flow boiling, cavitation), turbulent multiphase flows (water-sediment/turbidity currents, water-air/free surface flows), heat and mass transfer, aerodynamics, HVAC

Profile photo for Dr Angad Panesar

Dr Panesar’s supervision interests in the theme of energy engineering via simulation and experimental methods are aligned with his research interests in energy recovery, energy storage, advanced engines, sustainable fuels, low carbon transport and life cycle assessment. He welcomes correspondence from potential Placement, PhD and Post-Doctoral applicants, and new academic and industrial collaborators.

Profile photo for Dr Oyuna Rybdylova

I am interested in supervising research students in mathematical and numerical modelling for multiphase flows, aerodynamics and mass and heat transfer.

Completed:

Dr Abbas Al-Ameeri - Effect of climate change on durability of existing concrete structures: Comparison between UK & Iraq

Current:

Mr Zuhaib Nissar - Sprays: Liquid Break-up and Droplet Distribution

Profile photo for Prof Sergei Sazhin

Numerical and asymptotic modelling of fluid dynamics, heat/mass transfer, and combustion processes in Diesel and gasoline sprays. Heating and evaporation of multi-component fuel droplets (hydrodynamic and kinetic models)

Profile photo for Dr Simon Walters

I’m interested in research supervision in: electrical, electronic, automotive, mechanical and aeronautical engineering, including computer science - intelligent systems applications. I have particular interest in: power and high voltage systems, power electronics, intelligent systems - neural networks and fuzzy logic.

PhD Students:

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Rama Rahimi (2022-present)

TBA

Bartosz Płoszaj (2020-present)

TBA

Alan Thomas (2014–present)

Intelligent optimisation techniques for minimising transient vehicle emissions

Shaun H Lee (2011) 

Intelligent techniques for improved engine fuel economy

Merrenna Manula De Zoysa (2003) 

Neural network estimation of air-fuel ratio in internal combustion engines 

Nicolas Miché (2002)

Gas Flow Analysis of a Uniflow Diesel Aero-engine

 

For further supervisory staff including cross-disciplinary options, please visit  

 

Making an  application

Once you have prepared a first-rate application you can apply to the 91¶¶Òõ through our . When you do, you will require a research proposal, references, a personal statement and a record of your education.

You will be asked whether you have discussed your research proposal and your suitability for doctoral study with a member of the 91¶¶Òõ staff. We strongly recommend that all applications are made with the collaboration of at least one potential supervisor. Approaches to potential supervisors can be made directly through the details available online. If you are unsure, please do contact the Doctoral College for advice.

Please visit our How to apply for a PhD page for detailed information.

Sign in to our to begin.

Fees and funding

 Funding

Undertaking research study will require university fees as well as support for your research activities and plans for subsistence during full or part-time study.

Funding sources include self-funding, funding by an employer or industrial partners; there are competitive funding opportunities available in most disciplines through, for example, our own university studentships or national (UK) research councils. International students may have options from either their home-based research funding organisations or may be eligible for some UK funds.

Learn more about the funding opportunities available to you.

Tuition fees academic year 2024–25

Standard fees are listed below, but may vary depending on subject area. Some subject areas may charge bench fees/consumables; this will be decided as part of any offer made. Fees for UK and international/EU students on full-time and part-time courses are likely to incur a small inflation rise each year of a research programme.

MPhil/PhD
 Full-timePart-time

UK

£4,786 

£2,393

International (including EU)

£15,900

N/A

International students registered in the School of Humanities and Social Science or in the School of Business and Law

£14,500

N/A


PhD by Publication
Full-time Part-time
 N/A  £2,393

Contact 91¶¶Òõ Doctoral College

To contact the Doctoral College at the 91¶¶Òõ we request an email in the first instance. Please visit our contact the 91¶¶Òõ Doctoral College page.

For supervisory contact, please see individual profile pages.

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