PhD Studentship: Sustainable Aviation Fuel Thermochemical Modelling

Applications are invited to undertake a PhD programme, in partnership with Airbus, to address key challenges in ensuring adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) by understanding the thermophysical and thermochemical behaviour across conditions typical of fuel systems. This research will remove barriers to the adoption of SAF, both for current and future fuels.

The research programme will use a mixture of computational, analytical, and machine learning approaches to model the heat transfer to fuels and their physical and chemical behaviour including changes in chemistry and physical properties. The interaction between fuel chemistry and physical behaviour will be investigated. If appropriate, experimental analysis to provide validation data will be acquired as part of the PhD, although where possible validation data will be taken from industrial and openly available literature.

You will gain experience in computational, analytical, and experimental approaches across mechanical and chemical engineering applied in an aerospace industry context.

You will be based in the Mechanical and Aerospace Systems research group (previously known as the Gas Turbine and Transmissions research centre) within the Faculty of Engineering and will be part of a supportive team of 50 researchers, technicians, support staff, and academics. The group has a dynamic research culture with a programme of seminars, writing, and social events with a research office hub providing a quiet working environment with social and meeting spaces.

You would be expected to spend part of the PhD period based in Bristol at the Airbus site and will receive supervision support and training from both the university and Airbus. This research will support the path to net zero flights and there may be opportunities to become involved in practical aspects of fuel system design and testing during the PhD.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated person with a rigorous approach to research.

• You should have or be expected to gain a high 2:1, preferably a 1st class honours degree in chemical, mechanical or aerospace engineering or a chemistry or computer science related degree
• A good knowledge and/or experience in heat transfer is essential, as is the ability to work well in a team
• Prior experience in the areas of computational fluid dynamics, chemistry, machine learning, or computational heat transfer will be an advantage.

Due to funding restrictions this studentship is only available to UK (home fees) citizens.

The PhD studentship will cover fees and tax-free stipend of £24,000 p.a. for four years.

Closing date: 5 January 2027

£24,000 per annum for 4 years