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Mechanical Engineering
The Institute for Energy Systems at the University of Edinburgh invites applications for a PhD studentship in "Next-Generation Electricity Market Modelling for Sustainable Energy Systems." This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to transformative research in the transition of electricity markets in the UK.
The UK electricity market requires significant reform to meet the demands of a net-zero energy future. This project will look to help provide quantitative evidence to support the design of future electricity markets by developing the next-generation of open-source electricity market models. Model development will ideally build on state-of-the-art tools such as PyPSA for energy system optimisation and AMIRIS for agent-based modelling of market behaviour.
The research will focus on rethinking the UK’s electricity market design, addressing key REMA challenges, including locational signals, promoting investment in renewables, and enhancing system flexibility. By integrating renewable energy, energy storage (e.g., hydrogen production), and demand-side participation into these models, the project aims to optimise market efficiency while supporting the UK’s broader decarbonisation goals.
The candidate will develop a wide range of skills in simulation, optimisation, and data analysis which are widely applicable to future career development. Additionally, there are opportunities for engaging with an open and inclusive community of open-source energy system developers both within IES and globally.
*NOTE: Competitive funding may be applied for if applications are received before the 31st January, 2025 via EPSRC DLA scheme - https://www.ukri.org/news/major-investment-to-support-the-next-generation-of-researchers/
**NOTE: This position will remain open until filled. Early contact is highly recommended.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Essential background:
2.1 or above (or equivalent) in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Energy Engineering/Economics, Informatics, or similar Programming in Python, Julia or other high-level language
Desirable background:
Knowledge of energy economics Experience of energy system modelling and optimisation Data analysis, optimisation and/or machine learning
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
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A major challenge for defence & security laser systems is managing the heat generated and differential thermal expansion of the different components in the system. A compounding challenge is the vast range of ambient temperatures in which these systems need to operate without thermal distortion. However, additive manufacturing gives the unique opportunity to tailor the material properties, and design the support structures, to manage different thermal expansions of optics, laser crystals, laser diodes, etc.
The research will focus on developing new material combinations in powder-bed laser fusion additive manufacturing, as well as to design and demonstrate new mechanical 3D printed structures, with the specific aim of managing and matching the thermal expansion coefficients of laser system components, while maintaining the required precision and stability of these high-end laser systems.
This project will be jointly supervised by:
- Prof Jonathan Corney j.r.corney@ed.ac.uk
- Dr Sam Tammas-Williams s.tammaswilliams@ed.ac.uk
Smart Products Made Smarter
The PhD project forms part of a larger Prosperity Partnership Programme, Smart Products Made Smarter, a collaboration with Heriot-Watt University, University of Edinburgh and Leonardo.
We are pleased to invite applications for a PhD studentship to work as part of a leading team of experts. This studentship will be supported by an enhanced stipend of £20,716 per year over 3.5 years.
This grant, sponsored by the EPSRC, is a collaboration between academia and Leonardo. There are currently PhD opportunities available to work on diverse topics as part of this collaborative team. The work will involve strong links with industry.
The research addresses a broad range of challenges. These challenges exemplify future product lifecycle management from smart concept, design, development and manufacture to enhanced end-user capability, united by a common digital thread to enable smarter products to be made smarter. Each challenge area has clearly identified initial research themes and associated research challenges to be addressed and these are indicated below:
Challenge 1 (C1) the Making challenge: To create new hybrid manufacturing processes, that combine multiple Additive Manufacturing (AM) process with precision machining and coating processes to create components that disrupt the traditional functional trade-offs of Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) through techniques such as varying the material properties within a part and harnessing the digital production of optical components.
Challenge 2 (C2) the Manipulation challenge: To create new handling processes that fully exploit the digital data flows which define custom components whose shape and functionality is tailored to production by dexterous, highly adaptable robots that are programmed dynamically.
Challenge 3 (C3) the Computation challenge: To create new signal processing & machine learning methodologies that enable intelligent, digital & connected sensor products while mitigating the data deluge from the multiple sensors produced by Leonardo operating across the EM spectrum.
The themes represent areas that could form the basis of your PhD. These PhD positions offer great flexibility and we welcome the opportunity to explore other ideas & themes.
Please note that this advert will close as soon as a suitable candidate is found.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. Please note that as this is a defence based project, only UK/EU students are eligible to apply. International applicants are not eligible.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Tuition fees + stipend are available for applicants who qualify as:
a UK applicant an EU applicant (International/non EU students are not eligible)
Funding is available through EPSRC Prosperity Partnership Programme. As this is a defence related project there are nationality restrictions (see above).
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If we stretch a material, such as a rubber band, in one direction we observe it contracts in the lateral direction. However, a material can be designed to be counterintuitive so that when it is stretched in one direction it also expands in the lateral direction. A material with this unusual property is called a mechanical metamaterial (an auxetic material). The pore sizes in such materials can therefore be changed by strain. A mechanical metamaterial with a hydrophobic surface can be converted by strain to a super-water-repellent material or to a porous material.
In this project, the focus will be on creating hydrophobic mechanical metamaterials using foams and characterizing their properties when in contact with different liquids. The project will also consider a possible application in the programmable separation of oil-water mixtures and de-fouling of materials. The project will investigate whether strain might be used as a switch to allow oil to either be blocked to to pass through the material and whether strain can be used to release particulates blocking the material when it is used as a filter.
The PhD researcher will be part of the Wetting, Interfacial Sciences and Engineering Group within the Institute for Multiscale Thermofliuds. You will join a vibrant community of PhD students, postdoctoral research associates and academics working in various aspects of surfaces and wetting. The student will attain skills in materials preparation, surface coating, construction of experimental set-ups, and measurement techniques and characterization techniques.
It is expected that the applicant will have a good degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, physics, or a related discipline.
Please note that if a suitable candidate is found prior to the closing date, then the position will be closed and the advert will be removed.
For further information on this project, please refer to the following website: http://www.naturesraincoats.com/
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
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A wide spectrum of target thermoplastic materials can be manufactured by tailoring polymer blends to achieve particular combinations of end-user performance (e.g. mechanical, electrical, structural support) properties, important in various industrial sectors, especially in extreme-condition environments. These polymeric material classes include the widely used polyolefins (PE, PP), but also others derived from higher-MW monomers (PS, PVC, PVP, PC, PTFE, etc. ). The key challenge here is to computationally predict (and experimentally confirm) optimal blend compositions which can be manufactured reasonably easily (high processability via extrusion, blow moulding, etc.), in order to achieve formulated products which achieve (or exceed) the said end-user properties, under reasonable total (fixed+operating) cost per unit mass.
Over the years, the UoE Polymer Engineering Laboratory has compiled a wealth of experimental datasets for many blend-condition combinations (virgin/recycled feedstocks, input molecules, temperatures, extrusion/moulding settings, product macro-dimensions) e.g. Polymers 2023, 15(21), 4200 (https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15214200). Constructing first-principles mathematical models which combine macromolecular physical chemistry (e.g. Flory-Huggins theory) descriptions with mass/heat balances towards end-product property estimation, rigorous unit operation (e.g. extruder) design and optimisation is extremely cumbersome, both due to mathematical complexity, but even more so due to the extreme and pervasive parametric uncertainty hampering such efforts.
Therefore, this PhD project aims to combine state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) methodologies in order to explore optimal blending and processing conditions for polymeric material classes, towards developing materials which will achieve high performance indices for key target properties, while also ensuring high processability and cost-optimal manufacturing at scale.
Strong computational skills, an interest in statistics, and prior experience in numerical methods/software (MATLAB, Python) are essential; prior ML-based project work is desirable.
https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/dr-dimitrios-i-gerogiorgis
https://vasileioskoutsos.wixsite.com/softmaterials
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
An undergraduate degree in Chemical/Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related area (Physics, Chemistry), with a strong background in computational modelling.
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
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Pressing fire safety challenges exist in both the built and natural environment with climate change effects leading to increased extreme weather events in many regions increasing wildfire risk. Similarly, sustainable development efforts are one of the drivers of increased adoption of bio-based, sustainable construction materials some of which may also introduce novel fire hazards. This PhD position provides the opportunity to contribute to ongoing efforts at the Edinburgh Fire Research Centre to apply fundamental principles of physics, chemistry and engineering to characterize the combustion behaviour of wildland vegetation and bio-based materials.
This PhD position would suit motivated candidates from a wide range of academic backgrounds (e.g. Applied Science/Maths/Physics, Engineering, Geosciences etc.) who are interested in applying their existing skillset to problems in fire science, fire engineering and/or wildland fire science.
The project will include the opportunity to gain expertise in the development and use of a variety of established and novel measurement instrumentation to monitor and characterize the variation in structure of a fuel as it burns. For example, utilizing established methods to quantify the spatial and temporal variation of solid fuel temperatures (e.g. colour pyrometry) and burning rate (continuous mass loss measurements). Alongside developing novel approaches to characterising and quantifying the variation in fuel structure (volume, geometry) and the resulting influence on linked physical properties (e.g. drag force, radiative absorption).
The results obtained will be used to support the development of improved fire behaviour modelling tools and to improve our existing theoretical descriptions of fire spread in porous fuels. This in turn, will support ongoing global efforts to develop improved decision support tools to aid land managers and fire agencies in developing land management and fire management strategies in the natural environment, and to support fire safety engineering design efforts in the built environment.
During this project, you will be part of The Edinburgh Fire Research Centre within the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment. You will join a vibrant community of PhD students, postdoctoral research associates and academics working in various aspects of fire science and engineering. This is a collaborative and friendly environment and strong teamwork and communication skills are therefore required.
More information on the Edinburgh Fire Research Centre - http://www.fire.eng.ed.ac.uk/research
Examples of the effects of fuel structure on combustion behaviour in wildland fires: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPqXRsMbz18&t=387s
Existing Wildfire Research projects at The University of Edinburgh in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service & partners. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEO_8oXtbes&t=4s
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Tuition fees + stipend are available for Home/EU and International students
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This PhD project proposes an innovative exploration of how sex-specific differences in hormonal profiles and blood flow dynamics impact liver function, utilizing cutting-edge techniques involving liver organoids and microfluidic technology. Males and females differ significantly in their liver function and pathology, thought to be largely due to variations in hormonal environment and hemodynamics. Despite these observations, current approaches to elucidating these effects are limited, and rely heavily on expensive, time-consuming, and ethically challenging animal models and clinical trials. This project aims to fill this critical gap by developing and leveraging organoid-based models coupled with microfluidic systems to simulate and study the effects of these variables on liver behavior.
The overarching aims of the project will be:
- Develop and Characterize Sex-Specific Liver Organoids: Generate male and female liver organoids using cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells. These organoids will provide a 3D cellular architecture that mimics the microenvironment of the human liver.
- Integrate Liver Organoids into a Microfluidic Platform: Deploy these organoids within a microfluidic device designed to mimic blood flow characteristics. This integration will allow for the precise control and measurement of fluid shear stress and oscillating hormone profiles, mimicking the physiological conditions of male and female circulatory systems.
- Investigate Hormonal Impact: Examine how exposure to different levels and types of hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, influences liver function within this controlled setting. Focus will be on key functional metrics like metabolism, bile production, and response to injury.
The project aims to reveal critical insights into the sex-specific regulatory mechanisms of liver function influenced by hormonal and hemodynamic conditions. By elucidating these differences, the research will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of liver disease pathogenesis across sexes, potentially guiding more personalized medical treatments.
Location and skills: The project will be carried out at the Institute for Bioengineering (IBioE) at the University of Edinburgh. The student will attain skills in mammalian cell culture, microfluidics, materials, optical microscopy, as well as data and image analysis.
Career development -
Institutional and Peer Support: you will benefit from an excellent supportive environment at the School of Engineering within the Institute for Bioengineering at The University of Edinburgh.
International Collaboration: the successful student will also have to opportunity visit and interact with our network of international collaborators.
Impactful publications and dissemination: the student will also benefit from strong support towards publications in world class journals and participation in major conferences as well as support to undertake outreach to the wider public.
Teaching and Research Development: the potential student will have the opportunity (once trained and familiar with relevant materials) to become a teaching assistant for courses offered at the School of Engineering.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Applicants applying for an MRC DTP in Precision Medicine studentship must have obtained, or will soon obtain, a first or upper-second class UK honours degree or equivalent non-UK qualification, in an appropriate science/technology area.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
We welcome applications from self-funded students
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Membrane-based processes for water treatment, such as reverse osmosis (RO), hold promise in tackling water scarcity locally and globally. Nevertheless, conventional polyamide membranes for RO exhibit low rejection of Small, charge-Neutral Contaminants (SNCs), which endanger human health and biota.
Progress towards highly selective membranes has been hindered by insufficient understanding of the mechanisms that underlie separation efficiency: how water and contaminants sorb into, and diffuse through, polyamide membranes. Both contaminant sorption and transport require a molecular-level treatment, at far higher resolution than is afforded by conventional (continuum) membrane transport models.
Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and free energy calculations, this project aims to computationally design highly selective RO membranes by elucidating the mechanisms governing SNC sorption and transport. The project will focus on SNCs that are insufficiently rejected by state-of-the art RO membranes, e.g., boric acid, a toxic constituent of seawater, and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a carcinogenic disinfection by-product whose insufficient removal during RO-based wastewater reuse (rejection ~ 60%) demands additional, and costly, advanced oxidation processes (e.g., high-energy UV).
The specific objectives of this project are:
- Objective 1. To gain molecular-level insight into the hydration layer at the polyamide-water interface, to understand how interfacial water molecules determine SNC sorption and transport.
- Objective 2. To elucidate the role of interfacial chemistry in SNC sorption to polyamide, in order to computationally develop surface coatings to bolster SNC rejection, and thus establish structure-property-performance relations linking coating composition with SNC rejection.
- Objective 3. To characterise the transport mechanisms of SNCs through polyamide, to enable transport models to quantify the trade-off between contaminant rejection and water permeance.
Simulation insights emerging from this project will enable membrane manufacturers to develop highly selective RO membranes. These materials will lower the cost of seawater desalination and wastewater recycling by RO, in addition to producing safer product water for humans and ecosystems.
Research and Training
The successful applicant will conduct research in the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, under the co-supervision of Dr Santiago Romero-Vargas Castrillón and Dr Rohit Pillai. The student will have access to a wide range of computational facilities, including ARCHER2, the UK’s national supercomputer. Educational and research opportunities afforded by this project include:
- Training in state-of-the-art molecular simulation technique
- Close mentoring through regular meetings, as well as interactions with other investigators at the Institute of Multiscale Thermofluids (IMT) and the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment (IIE) at Edinburgh
- The opportunity to attend national and international scientific conferences to disseminate your result
- Strong emphasis and support to publish research results in leading scientific journals, which will kickstart your career in academia or industry
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
This is a challenging and scientifically ambitious project, requiring a student who is dedicated and enthusiastic about asking, and tackling, fundamental questions. The successful applicant will have been awarded an undergraduate degree at the time of appointment (2:1 or above, preferably supported by an MSc) in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry, physics, materials science, or a cognate field. A strong background in mathematics and physics is required, as well as interest in molecular simulation. Prior research experience in modeling and simulation is highly desirable.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere, as explained below.
PhD studentships managed by the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh are available every year through a competitive process.
Applicants interested in applying for a University-administered award should e-mail the supervisors (Santiago@ed.ac.uk, R.Pillai@ed.ac.uk) as soon as possible to begin discussions, explaining how your experience meets the Applicant Requirements given above. Application deadlines vary from mid-January to late March.
Please note that most studentships are available only to Home Students (International students not eligible.)
To qualify as a Home student, you must fulfil one of the following criteria:
• You are a UK student
• You are an EU student with settled/pre-settled status who also has 3 years residency in the UK/EEA/Gibraltar/Switzerland immediately before the start of your Programme.
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Condensation is a heat transfer process in which a vapor releases energy/heat as it changes its phase to become a liquid, which typically occurs when the vapor is cooled below its dew temperature, often upon making contact with a cooler surface. This process is critical in numerous applications, including in HVAC systems, power generation, and refrigeration. The effectiveness of dropwise condensation in transferring heat makes it essential in condensers, where minimizing the surface area for dropwise condensation and optimizing conditions for heat transfer can significantly enhance system efficiency. Techniques such as enhancing surface properties or controlling fluid dynamics are often employed to maximize the rate of heat transfer during the condensation process.
Recently, we developed new techniques to modify surfaces with regions that can tune the surface properties and control the fluid dynamics of condensing droplets via patterned liquid-like surfaces, which are based on Slippery Covalently Attached Liquid-like Surfaces (SCALS). In this experimental project, you will tackle questions involving condensation on patterned liquid-like surfaces: we are interested in understanding how the different SCALS chemistries and the nature of the patterning affect condensation and heat transfer and help to maintain a stable heat flux during condensation phase-changes. This will require parametric and methodological studies and by answering questions like these, you will be pushing the boundaries of knowledge in this field and kick-start your postgraduate career.
We expect that you will have a good degree in Engineering or Physics with an experimental and modelling background. We are particularly interested to hear from applicants with experience in surface science, fluids dynamics and fluid mechanics and/or phase change.
If successful, you will become a member of the Wetting, Interfacial Sciences and Engineering WISE Group within the Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids at the School of Engineering. You will join a vibrant community of PhD students, postdoctoral research associates and academics working in various aspects of surfaces and wetting, and will develop as a scientist benefiting from our track record, which includes publications in top journals, international collaborations and contributions to key international conferences.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in Engineering or Physics with an experimental and modelling background, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. We are particularly interested to hear from applicants with experience in surface science, fluids dynamics and fluid mechanics and/or phase change.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
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The interaction of droplets with structured surfaces is extremely important in microfluidics, with target applications in medical diagnostics, self-assembly and printing. In this project you will study the dynamic interactions of droplets with structured solid surfaces coated by a thin liquid lubricant layer. Depending on your skills and interests, you will tackle questions about the fluid dynamics of this system using experimental/computational approaches, or a combination of both.
If successful, you will become a member of the Wetting, Interfacial Sciences and Engineering Group within the Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids at the School of Engineering. You will join a vibrant community of PhD students, postdoctoral research associates and academics working in various aspects of surfaces and wetting, and will develop as a scientist benefiting from our track record, which includes publications in top journals, international collaborations and contributions to key international conferences.
Informal queries can be directed to Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Aguilar (Rodrigo.ledesma@ed.ac.uk)
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree.
We expect that you will have a good degree in Engineering or Physics with an experimental or computational modelling background. We are particularly interested to hear from applicants with experience in surfaces and fluid mechanics.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
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Friction is a key limiting factor affecting the motion of liquids in contact with solid surfaces. When water droplets interact with a solid surface, friction can severely limit the speed at which they move, or hamper their motion altogether. Fundamentally, friction between droplets and solid forces is an open field of research in fluid mechanics, with important applications in a range of fields, from microfluidics to self-cleaning and heat transfer.
Recently, we have initiated research on the interaction between droplets and liquid-like surfaces. These are surfaces created by grafting polymer chains to a solid substrate, thus creating an ultrasmooth surface. In this project you will study the dynamics of droplets on patterned LLS, where a surface topography, or a chemical pattern, is applied. The scope of the project will be experimental, theoretical, or a combination of both, depending on your specific skill set. By addressing the questions of this project, you will be pushing the boundaries of knowledge in this new field and kick-start your postgraduate career.
If successful, you will become a member of the Wetting, Interfacial Sciences and Engineering Group within the Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids at the School of Engineering. You will join a vibrant community of PhD students, postdoctoral research associates and academics working in various aspects of surfaces and wetting, and will develop as a scientist benefiting from our track record, which includes publications in top journals, international collaborations and contributions to key international conferences.
The following academic team will be part of your supervision team:
Principal supervisor:Rodrigo Ledesma Aguilar: https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/dr-rodrigo-ledesma-aguilar
Assistant supervisors:Gary Wells: https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/dr-gary-wellsProfessor Glen McHale: https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/professor-glen-mchale
Informal queries can be directed to Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Aguilar (Rodrigo.ledesma@ed.ac.uk)
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree.
We expect that you will have a good degree in Engineering or Physics with an experimental and/or modelling background. We are particularly interested to hear from applicants with experience in surfaces and fluid mechanics.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
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