Applications are invited for a three-year Postgraduate studentship, supported by the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, to be undertaken within the EBRI Research Group at Aston University. This project is part of an internal competition.
The position is available to start in either October 2022 or January or April or July 2023, subject to negotiation.
Financial Support
Engineering and Physical Sciences College DTP PhD studentships are fully funded for 3 years. They include a maintenance allowance based on UKRI minimum and Home tuition fees (subject to eligibility). The figures for 2022/23 are yet to be confirmed. For reference, in the 2021/22 academic year, the maintenance allowance was £15,609 and the Home tuition fees were £4,500.
Overseas applicants may apply but will need to cover the difference between the ‘Home’ and the ‘Overseas’ tuition fees. The difference between ‘Home’ and ‘Overseas’ tuition fees for 2022/23 is yet to be confirmed. In the 2021/22 academic year, the difference was £13,100.
As part of the application, you will be required to confirm that you have applied for, or secured, this additional funding.
Full details of eligibility can be found here. Further guidance on UKRI Eligibility Criteria can be found on the UKRI website.
Project Background
Worldwide, stringent emissions norms and net zero targets put pressure on the marine sectors to replace heavy marine crude oils with sustainable and renewable alternative fuels. Use of sustainable low carbon fuels would help to reduce the carbon emissions in the marine sectors. This PhD project involves a critical review on the various low carbon sustainable fuel technologies for marine engines. A lifecycle energy and emission analysis will be carried out to develop novel approaches of decarbonising marine engines. The technologies investigated would be - (i) Combustion of NH3 as a green fuel in the marine engines. The NH3 combustion strategies will be developed using either a dual fuel or dual injection strategy. Engine experiments will be carried out to assess the emission savings using novel low temperature combustion strategies such as HCCI and RCCI techniques, (ii) Use of sustainable biofuels especially biodiesels produced from waste resources (2nd generation) and algae (3rd generation) as drop in fuels for marine engines. According to EU Renewable Energy Directive, biofuels must achieve 35% GHG savings. Often biodiesels produced from single feedstock does not meet the EN14214 biodiesel standard. Biodiesels produced from various resources will be mixed together to produce ‘biomix’ fuels to meet the biodiesel standard.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with a 60% or higher weighted average, and/or a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution) in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering. Preferred skill requirements include analytical and problem-solving skills, a good background on engines and low carbon fuels and the ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment.
We would particularly like to encourage applications from women seeking to progress their academic careers. Aston University is committed to the principles of the Athena SWAN Charter, recognised recently by a prestigious Silver Award to EPS, and we pride ourselves on our vibrant, friendly and supportive working environment and family atmosphere.
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project email Dr Abul Kalam Hossain.
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
Once you have contacted a supervisor, please follow the instructions on How to Apply to submit an application.
Please include the supervisor name, project title, and project reference in your Personal Statement.
For further information about the application process please contact Postgraduate Admissions.
What happens next
Applications received by 31st January will be referred by Graduate School PGR Admissions to the potential Supervisors. Potential candidate interviews will be either in-person or online. Interviewed applicants will be informed of the outcomes by April 2022.
Continue with Facebook
