PhD Studentship in Mechanical Engineering

Location: UK Other

Closing Date: Friday 31 October 2025

Reference: ENG279

The University of Nottingham, in partnership with Airbus, invites applications for a PhD programme in Mechanical Engineering to address challenges in adopting sustainable fuel additives for aviation. The successful candidate will be based in the Mechanical and Aerospace Systems research group (previously known as G2TRC) within the Faculty of Engineering and will be part of a team of researchers, technicians, support staff, and academics. The PhD will involve work across Mechanical, Aerospace & Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, with support from the NET2Zero CDT and EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Resilient Chemistry: Feedstock to Function.

• Undertake a PhD project in partnership with Airbus to investigate sustainable fuel additives for aviation.
• Employ a combination of computational, analytical, and experimental techniques to assess the mechanical, chemical, and environmental impacts of potential fuel additives.
• Collaborate across Mechanical, Aerospace & Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, and participate in activities across the faculties of Science and Engineering.
• Spend part of the PhD period based in Bristol at the Airbus site, with supervision and training provided by both the University and Airbus.
• Gain experience in designing fuel additives and applying computational, analytical, experimental techniques, potentially including machine learning, to support net zero flight objectives and practical aspects of fuel system design and testing.

• Applicants should hold, or be expected to gain, a high 2:1, preferably a 1st class honours degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering or Chemistry or a related field.
• A good knowledge and/or experience in chemical experimental techniques is essential.
• Ability to work well in a team; prior experience in computational chemistry or analytical chemistry/chemical engineering is advantageous.

The PhD studentship will cover fees and a tax-free stipend of £24,000 per annum for 4 years. Due to funding restrictions, this studentship is only available to UK (home fees) citizens.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof. Carol Eastwick.

In your application, please refer to Polytechnicpositions.com