aerodynamic PhD Projects, Programs & Scholarships

Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

The project is funded by EPSRC and Westwind Ltd, which is the world’s leading specialist air bearing designer and manufacturer.

PhD Studentship Opportunity in The effect of non-neutral winds on wind power aerodynamics

University of Surrey
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Dr M Placidi, Dr P Hancock

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project has funding attached for UK and EU students, though the amount may depend on your nationality. Non-EU students may still be able to apply for the project provided they can find separate funding. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Renewable sources provided 29.3% of the electricity generated in the UK in 2017, with offshore wind turbines producing some 21% of that, and registering an increased capacity of 27% during the same year [1]; these trends are predicted to grow in line with 2030 and 2050 targets [2].

Ice accretion on wind turbine blades

Kingston University
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing

Dr Y Lin, Prof J Wang

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

The abundant wind resource in cold and high altitude regions in the world is attractive for the increasing demand for renewable wind power production.

Modelling Aircraft Fatigue Load Spectra and the Effect of Novel Aircraft Designs

Queen’s University Belfast
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Dr A Murphy, Dr M Geron

Application Deadline: 13 March 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project has funding attached for UK and EU students, though the amount may depend on your nationality. Non-EU students may still be able to apply for the project provided they can find separate funding. You should check the project and department details for more information.

This project is funded through a prestigious EPSRC iCASE award and will be carried out within a large research team (including academics, PhDs and Post-Doctoral researchers) who conduct exciting and innovative research in collaboration with Rolls-Royce.

Integrated Aero/Hydro/Structural Analysis and Multi-objective Optimisation of Floating Wind Turbines

Aberdeen University
School of Engineering

Dr A Maheri, Dr S Sriramula

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Floating wind energy is potentially a highly scalable future energy source. Almost 80% of the Europe wind resources are in waters with +60 m depth, where floating offshore wind turbines are deemed to be the natural solutions.

Stochastic response characterisation and reliability driven optimisation of floating wind turbines

Aberdeen University
School of Engineering

Dr S Sriramula, Dr A Maheri

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

As the wind turbine installations move to deep-water environments, there is an increasing focus on the design considerations for floating wind turbines (FWTs).

Variable Pitch Fan Reverse Thrust Performance; Engine Operability and Design Studies

Cranfield University
School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing (SATM)

Prof V Pachidis

Application Deadline: 30 November 2019

Funding Type

PhD Type

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship within the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Aero Systems Design, Integration & Performance at Cranfield University.

Dynamics and Control of Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles Inspired by Monarch Butterflies

George Washington University
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Prof T Lee

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

The Flight Dynamics and Control Laboratory (http://fdcl.seas.gwu.edu) at The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA is looking for a doctoral candidate in robotics and control.

Doctor of Engineering (EngD): Optical Fibre Sensing for Offshore Renewable Energy (Fraunhofer)

Heriot-Watt University
School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Dr W N MacPherson, Dr Brian Sellar

Application Deadline: 30 December 2019

Funding Type

PhD Type

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project has funding attached for UK and EU students, though the amount may depend on your nationality. Non-EU students may still be able to apply for the project provided they can find separate funding. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Project not available to non UK/EU applicants. Project Description. Distributed optical fibre sensing is a topic of great industrial relevance.

An investigation into transonic flows over high pressure gas turbine blade tip

Kingston University
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing

Dr Z Saleh, Prof J Wang

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Propulsion, in particular the gas turbine engines are a significantly important theme in the aerospace industry, any enhancement in the performance of these engines will have a great impact on the economics of the aviation sector [Stephens et al, 2007].