Teaching programmes
Discover how the EMERC aims to train the next generation of engineers and scientists.
PhD programmes
We welcome general enquiries from prospective PhD students interested in conducting world-leading research at the EMERC. You can view details of our current research areas on our research hub.
We are currently inviting applications for the current round of EPSRC funded PhD studentships for entry in Autumn 2025. Details of the PhD projects on offer are provided below. As an EPSRC student you will join a vibrant doctoral community and will benefit from:
- 3.5 years of funding with a a tax free living allowance at the standard Research Council rate – currently £19,237 in 2024-5 – and international or UK PhD fees
- An option of 3 months of additional funding to cover a placement outside academia
- Funding for training and research expenses, such as conference trips and experimental costs
- Supervision by world-leading researchers
- Our Entrepreneurship Summer School and Responsible Research and Innovation workshops tailored to the needs of engineering and physical sciences researchers.
- Our Researcher Development workshops and access to taught modules relevant to your project.
Please get in touch with the relevant supervisor. More information on the application process can be found here.
The following project is a collaborative PhD project involving external industrial parthers:
- Innovations in high-performance high-lift heat pumps
Heat decarbonisation is a significant challenge that requires urgent action to meet net-zero targets. A particular challenge lies in the industrial sector, where heat demand is significant and can range enormously in terms of the amount and temperature of heat required. High temperature industrial heat pumps are expected to play a major role, but existing systems are limited in terms of the achievable temperature lift and heat-sink temperature, and new solutions need to be identified. This PhD studentship will focus on conducting state-of-the-art research to develop the tools and knowledge to enable the design of high-performance heat pumps that can meet the challenging needs of industrial applications.
Supervisors: Dr Martin T White, Dr Kun Liang
We also also inviting applications in the following topics:
- Advanced materials, automation and AI
This cutting-edge multidisciplinary project sits at the interface of advanced materials, automation and AI. You will develop/use automated systems for materials synthesis, allowing for rapid and data-rich experimentation. You will use AI to analyse gathered data and to drive experiments in search of specific research outcomes. You will discover new materials synthesis and processing approaches, and optimise these for target applications. This project is ideal for students inspired by interdisciplinary and high impact research. Candidates from a broad variety of academic backgrounds are welcome, and you will join a group where interdisciplinarity and diverse thinking are embraced.
Supervisor: Dr Philip Howes
- The importance of flow-unsteadiness in fluid machinery
It is intriguing to note that fluid flow applications that generate power are inherently unsteady (turbines, reciprocating engines, etc.), yet they are analysed (and designed in most cases) using steady flow principles. In this EPSRC funded studentship, the unsteady effects and their consequences to the design and performance of an axial compressor, an essential device on its own but also as a component within a jet propulsion system, will be the focus. Theoretical, computational and experimental tools will be used in appropriate manner to unravel the hidden physics at play.
Supervisor: Dr Vasudevan Kanjirakkad
- Developing models and methods for numerical analysis of the dynamics of critical structures and their optimisation
The major research topics are developing models and methods for numerical analysis of the dynamics of critical structures and their optimisation. The models and methods are aimed at application to practical structures using large-scale finite element models and accurate modelling of contact interactions in jointed structures with friction, gap and other nonlinear interactions. The comprehensive analysis of nonlinear forced response and self-excited vibrations is performed with the assessment of stability, sensitivity and robustness of the vibration regimes. The problems of modelling aeroelastic interactions of structures with fluid and modelling the effect of heat generation by friction in high-energy rubs are considered.
Supervisor: Dr Evgeny Petrov
- The extension and implementation of control systems, especially for renewable energy and hydrogen systems
Research focuses on the extension and implementation of control systems, especially for renewable energy and hydrogen systems. This includes the control and optimisation of renewable power generation and utilisation systems, especially using hydrogen as an energy carrier for storage. The research ranges from dynamic system modelling and control to ensure optimal integration of electrolytic/storage/fuel cell systems with renewable electricity supply, to hydrogen systems integration and application, such as stand-alone and grid-connected renewable hydrogen systems, renewable powered smart grid, fuel cell system applications, and use of hydrogen as alternative fuel for transportation.
Supervisor: Dr Fan Zhang
- Biomass-based corrosion protection and surface modification strategiess
Dr Fan Zhang leads a multidisciplinary research team focusing on biomass-based corrosion protection and surface modification strategies. A key EPSRC-funded project explores transforming lignin, an underutilized forestry waste product, into high-value coatings with superior anticorrosion and anti-wear properties. The project combines Mussel Adhesive Proteins (MAPs) and lignin to overcome challenges in film formation, creating sustainable, non-toxic alternatives to fossil-based coatings. Collaborations include Prof. Yijun Shi (Luleå University) and Prof. Bin Shen (Shanghai Jiaotong University) in tribology, and Prof. Jinshan Pan (KTH) in corrosion science. Industrial partners such as SSAB, Akzo Nobel, and Becker enhance the project’s industrial impact, driving renewable resource utilization in coatings.
Supervisor: Dr Fan Zhang
- Developing and optimising low-temperature regenerable sorbents for efficient CO2 capture in indoor environments
This PhD project focuses on developing and optimising low-temperature regenerable sorbents for efficient CO2 capture in indoor environments. Key objectives include designing novel materials with high capacity and selectivity, evaluating performance under realistic indoor conditions, and exploring energy-efficient regeneration strategies. Advanced characterisation techniques will elucidate material properties and sorption mechanisms, including BET analysis, TGA-MS, mercury porosimetry, and FTIR spectroscopy. Breakthrough testing and humidity tolerance studies will assess real-world applicability. The research aims to deliver scalable, sustainable solutions for indoor air quality improvement by integrating experimental findings with computational modelling.
Supervisor: Dr Jon Powell
- Effective and sustainable thermal management systems
Effective and sustainable thermal management systems (TMS) are a major requirement for all sectors using electrified power; from aerospace to automotive, to process engineering and hyperscale datacentres. Miniaturization of electrical components alongside increasing power dissipation is creating significant challenges requiring a technological step-change in TMS capability in-order to meet future demand. One promising avenue is evaporative spray cooling, which uses the latent heat of phase change alongside high momentum sprays to deliver surface heat fluxes orders of magnitude above single phase cooling technology.
We at Sussex have made considerable contributions to evaporative spray cooling, having previously received significant EPSRC funding and industrial support to develop a closed-loop evaporative spray test facility, that resulted in ten journal publications and four international conference papers. Despite this progress there are still significant challenges to optimising this technology, particularly in transport sectors where vibration, agitation and shock combine with open questions around nozzle specification, coolant type, chamber pressure, surface feature and working environment. To develop and maintain the UK as a world-leader in high-performance TMS innovation, high-quality experimental investigations [1] with detailed complex measurements (eg. [2]) are necessary in-order to answer important research questions, making this topic ideal for an EPSRC-funded Studentship.
Supervisors: Prof Julian Dunne, Dr Mark Puttock-Brown
- Developing novel cooling systems for space, quantum, fusion reactor and transport
My team are developing novel cooling systems for space, quantum, fusion reactor and transport. The UK is leading international efforts to deliver clean fusion energy to the grid but realising the fusion dream requires cryogenic innovation for superconducting magnet that needs to be kept at 4 Kelvin. In this project, we will investigate a transformative but low-TRL Helium-based Pulsating Heat pIpe (HePHI) as a heat sink that could achieve thermal conductivity two orders higher than copper. Using infra-red imaging and high-speed camera, we will fully understand the heat transfer mechanism of thermally driven oscillations of helium.
Supervisor: Dr Kun Liang
- Improving gas turbine engine structures
Gas turbine engines are fundamental to the modern world, from transport to power generation, and demand is set to increase. While changes from fossil to sustainable fuels and eventually hydrogen is inevitable, the engine architecture is not likely to vary significantly, meaning a continued demand for improved internal air systems. These systems supply cooling and sealing and represent direct parasitic losses, yet without them the engine could not function. This makes improvements vital to meeting stringent targets and yet significant research questions remain. The rotating cavities, formed by sequential compressor stages, represent one such challenge due the complexity of the coupled heat transfer and flow field leading to intractable simulation problems.
Sussex is home to one (of only four) experimental rotating cavity test facilities in the world, demonstrably the closest to real engine conditions [1], and has been a mainstay of gas turbine research for over 40 years. Mostly recently working with GE Aviation, we have collaborated to develop cutting edge design-models using world-leading test data. Now we are looking to initiate a step- change in the field by investigating control methods to improve engine performance, making this an exciting opportunity to deliver significant real-world impact through an EPSRC studentship.
Supervisors: Dr Mark Puttock-Brown , Dr Vasudevan Kanjirakkad
- Unlocking high-efficiency geothermal power generation
Geothermal energy can be extracted from underground to provide renewable, baseload electricity 24- hours, and 365 days a year that could meet 20% of global electricity needs. However, the key roadblock is high costs. The geothermal sector is moving at unprecedented speed, with significant innovation to reduce drilling costs. This project will build on groundbreaking research at Sussex that is exploring innovations in the surface-level power plant. These innovations could enable a 30% improvement in power conversion, which translates to significant cost reductions. Specific areas of interest include techno-economic optimisation of the power plant, alongside innovation in turbomachinery design.
Supervisor: Dr Martin T White
- Control methods for ‘excitable’ systems such as battery thermal runaway and reactions of new, zero emission fuels
This PhD will develop control methods for ‘excitable’ systems such as battery thermal runaway and reactions of new, zero emission fuels being developed at Sussex. Excitable systems are characterised by a small response to small stimuli and a large response if the stimulus passes a threshold. They include a wide range of applications from chemical reactions to neuron behaviour to climate change. Excitable systems can be modelled as a ‘switchlet’ which this PhD will use to develop ‘model-based controllers’ for excitable systems, allowing them to operate in a safe and controlled manner. See https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2010.0485 for an introduction to excitable systems.
Supervisor: Prof Peter Fussey
- Energy network resilience and reliability and the impact of climate change
Our research interests include energy network resilience and reliability, the impact of climate change and pandemics on energy networks, adaptation and mitigation of those impacts, critical infrastructure interdependencies, intelligent control / aggregation of Distributed Energy Resources, multiple energy carriers / integrated energy systems, complex network dynamics, micro-grids, Virtual Power Plants, energy storage, multi-agent systems, electric vehicles. Potential PhD project topics include: “Network Theory Resilience Metrics for interdependent multilayer critical infrastructure networks”; “Climate adaptation of critical infrastructure networks”; “Preventing electrical network blackouts with epidemic control techniques”; “Forest fires, climate change, pandemics and critical infrastructure resilience”
Supervisor: Dr Spyros Skarvelis-Kazakos
- Fluid-dynamics and its applications, particularly, to turbomachines
Have you ever wondered what is common to vehicle tunnel safety and aircraft propulsion? The Thermo-Fluids research group at Sussex has been at the forefront of cutting-edge research in collaboration with jet-engine manufacturers. In this EPSRC-funded studentship, however, we use our knowledge to design a tunnel ventilation ‘jet-fan’ component that will reduce the risk of pollutant or incident-related tunnel contamination 'quietly' and 'efficiently'. The work will utilise computational and experimental methodologies akin to aero-engine research. It is an ideal opportunity for candidates intrigued by fluid-dynamics and its applications, particularly, to turbomachines and for those interested to work in collaboration with relevant industry.
Supervisor: Dr Vasudevan Kanjirakkad
Informal enquiries can be directed towards specific academic staff members of the EMERC.
View more details on the Engineering PhD progamme at Sussex.
Taught courses
Members of the EMERC regularly contribute to a number of modules within taught engineering courses at Sussex. These range from first-year undergraduate to Master's level and cover a number of topics related to design, modelling and analysis of thermo-fluid sytems.
More details on taught engineering courses at Sussex can be found on the University of Sussex engineering page.