flight PhD Projects, Programs & Scholarships

Competition 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 is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

The Flight Science and Technology (FS&T) research group at the University of Liverpool are international leaders in the use of flight simulation to support aircraft/ship and helicopter/ship clearance operations.

Probing organic composition of the atmosphere with Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

The University of Manchester
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Research Group: Atmospheric Science

Prof H Coe, Dr J Allan, Prof G McFiggans

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

Self-Funded PhD 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 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.

There are a huge number of organic compounds present in the atmosphere. They are emitted from a wide range of sources that are both natural and man-made.

PhD Studentship Opportunity in Viscoelastic Damping of Vibrations that Occur in Space Flight

University of Surrey
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Dr A Viquerat

Application Deadline: 30 September 2020

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 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.

During flight vibrations up to 2000 Hz may be experienced. These vibrations can affect the behaviour of sensitive components and potentially the overall flight characteristics of the system.

Flocking dynamics in birds : the role of personality and experience

Royal Holloway, University of London
School of Biological Sciences

Dr S Portugal

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

Self-Funded PhD 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 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.

Many birds travel in flocks comprising many individuals. During flights, decisions have to be made about who leads and follows, and who is positioned where in the flock.

Robot design and construction of jumping-take off unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) for use in precision agriculture

University of Lincoln
School of Life Sciences

Dr E Frasnelli

Application Deadline: 14 June 2020

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.

This project aims to address two research challenges. (1) an engineering challenge, with respect to design of energy-efficient biologically-inspired flying robots; and (2) an application challenge, with respect to high-precision sensing for agricultural settings.

PhD Studentship Opportunity in Advanced Deployable Structures for Space Flight

University of Surrey
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Dr A Viquerat

Application Deadline: 30 September 2020

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 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.

The objective of this project is to produce a lightweight, stowable memory-material for deployment in vacuum (i.e. space) to form a general “rigid” composite structure.

Integrated Sense and Avoid Algorithm for the Operation of Multiple UAS PhD

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

Dr A Tsourdos

Application Deadline: 6 July 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

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.

Background. This is an exciting opportunity for a fully-funded PhD studentship in the Centre for Autonomous and Cyber-Physical Systems at Cranfield University, in the field of the autonomy on multiple UAS.

Swarming Algorithms used to achieve Goal based Missions PhD

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

Dr A Tsourdos

Application Deadline: 6 July 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

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.

Background. This is an exciting opportunity for a fully-funded PhD studentship in the Centre for Autonomous and Cyber-Physical Systems at Cranfield University, in the field of autonomy and multiple UAS.

Future Rotorcraft Human Machine Interface

University of Liverpool
School of Engineering

Prof M White, Prof I Owen

Application Deadline: 30 June 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition 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 is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

The Flight Science and Technology research group at the University of Liverpool has established itself as a leading academic institute in flight simulation research.

Aerospace optical sensors (GE Aviation)

University of Southampton
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Research Group: Photonic Systems Circuits & Sensors

Dr C Holmes

Application Deadline: 1 July 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition 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 is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

Supervisor. Dr Christopher Holmes, Prof Ling Wang. Project description. Sensors are crucial components for flight. In addition to providing information to the flight crew, they are increasingly providing information for Artificial Intelligence systems, in order to predict and thus avoid faults.

Simulation of large-amplitude gust interaction with rigid wings

University of Southampton
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Research Group: Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics

Dr A Da Ronch

Application Deadline: 31 August 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition 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 is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

Supervisor. Andrea Da Ronch. Project description. This is a unique opportunity for an enthusiastic and self-driven student to join a vibrant team with a well-proved expertise in nonlinear computational aeroelasticity and aerodynamics.

Using machine learning for early-stage aircraft wing design under uncertainty

Cardiff University
Cardiff School of Engineering

Dr A Kundu, Prof D Kennedy

Application Deadline: 24 July 2020

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 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.

Description of Project. Early-stage aircraft structural design must explore a large design space to ensure optimal aerodynamic and load bearing performance.

PhD Studentship Opportunity in High temperature materials research for antenna applications

University of Surrey
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Prof J F Watts, Dr A Viquerat

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 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 concerned with the development of coatings for the protection of materials, used by Cobham Aerospace Connectivity, in the manufacture of their antenna systems.

PhD Studentship Opportunity in High temperature materials research for antenna applications

University of Surrey
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Prof J F Watts, Dr A Viquerat

Application Deadline: 30 September 2020

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 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 concerned with the development of coatings for the protection of materials, used by Cobham Aerospace Connectivity, in the manufacture of their antenna systems.

Aircraft advanced rear end and empennage optimisation enhanced by anti-ice coatings and devices

University of Southampton
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Research Group: Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics

Dr A Da Ronch

Application Deadline: 31 May 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition 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 is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

Supervisor. Andrea Da Ronch. Co-supervisor John Shrimpton. Project description.