Optimizing the operation of renewable energy-driven desalination

Applications are invited for a three-year Postgraduate studentship, supported by the School of Engineering and Applied Science, to be undertaken within the Sustainable Environment Research Group at Aston University The successful applicant will join an established group working on water and energy systems. The studentship is offered in partnership with the University of Bahrain.

The position is available to start in 1st October 2017
Financial Support
This studentship includes a bursary to cover the tuition fees and a 3-year maintenance allowance starting at £14,553 in the 2017/18 academic year. Overseas applicants are also welcome to apply.
Background of the Project
The goal of the project is to design desalination systems based on reverse osmosis principles for operation from fluctuating renewable energy sources. Activities will involve modelling of renewable energy-desalination plants at different scales, including design and optimisation of the control system, and construction and testing of a prototype representative of future scaled-up versions. The project is expected to include design studies of desalination plants for use in Kingdom of Bahrain, and will thus contribute to water security based on clean energy sources for the Gulf region.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should have a first class or upper second class honours degree or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Physics, or related discipline. Preferred skill requirements should include knowledge/experience of control systems, process engineering and/or mechanical design. Familiarity with mathematical modelling/ system identification methods using machine learning techniques such as Bayesian networks and artificial neural networks will also be an advantage.

For informal enquiries about this project please contact Dr Philip Davies ([Email Address Removed]) or Dr Xianghong Ma ([Email Address Removed]) of Aston University, or Dr Hanan Albuflasa ([Email Address Removed]) of University of Bahrain.

The online application form, reference forms and details of entry requirements, including English language are available here.

Applications must also be accompanied by a research proposal giving an overview of the main themes of the research, and explaining how your knowledge and experience will benefit the project.

Details of how to write your project proposal are also included in the How to Apply section.

Closing Date: 06th July 2017.