University of Nottingham, England invites online Application for number of Fully Funded PhD Positions at various Departments. We are providing a list of Fully Funded PhD Programs available at University of Nottingham, England.
Eligible candidate may Apply as soon as possible.
(01) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: Fully funded PhD studentship: Fundamental studies into single atom catalysts
We are recruiting applicants for a fully funded PhD studentship in the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham to work under the supervision of Dr David Duncan. The project will be strongly based at Diamond Light Source (Oxfordshire), the UK’s national synchrotron facility, where the student will be based for at least two years of the project. At Diamond, the student will be able to utilise cutting edge equipment to study single atom catalysts anchored on defective graphene substrates. Catalysis is a key industrial process that underpins not only the supply of consumer goods, but also the scale of food production required to feed the billions of people on this planet. However, catalysis is challenging to study on atomic scale, requiring the development and study of ever more realistic model systems. Single atom catalysts, where the catalytic site contains only a single metal atom supported on a heterogenous substrate, offers a tantalising prospect as a model system: it is an inherently defective system (like almost all real catalysts) that can be anchored to supports amenable to fundamental atomistic studies. This research will build upon an ongoing collaboration between the Universities of Warwick, Nottingham and QMUL and Diamond Light Source, to develop model defective graphene supports, onto which single metal atoms can be anchored.
Deadline : 31 December, 2025
(02) PhD Positions- Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Stdentship: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) PhD in Digital Metal with Rolls-Royce (Enhanced Stipend) Development of Advanced Barrier Coatings for extreme environments
Advanced TBCs are used in critical aeroengine components (e.g., Ni superalloy turbine blades) to ensure a reliable and highly efficient operation. TBCs are crucial to ensure the safe and high-performance operation of such critical parts under extreme temperatures and pressures; however, external contaminants (e.g. Calcium Magnesium Alumina and Silicates -CMAS-) can infiltrate these coatings and accelerate their degradation.
Leveraging a fundamental understanding of material science, coatings technologies and advanced thermal spray deposition systems, this research explores the development of novel protective chemistries that can be deposited in situ to protect TBC systems. By combining advanced digital technologies to evaluate the degradation of the TBC and the nature of the environmental contaminants, the project will develop advanced protective coatings to mitigate damage to these TBCs. Moreover, this project will leverage advanced bespoke continuum robotic systems to demonstrate the feasibility of applying the proposed coatings can be deployed in-situ.
Ultimately, this work bridges the gap between the theory of advanced material science and the challenges of implementation in an industrial environment. This research contributes to advance the fundamental understanding of novel protective coating systems, laying the groundwork for advanced unique intelligent coatings systems able to be customised based on the external contaminants, thus helping ensure the sustainability of the aerospace industry. The coatings will be manufactured using plasma spray and mini-combustion flame spray and examined in SEM/EBSD and tested in a burner rig and furnace thermal cycling.
Deadline : 01 April 2026
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(03) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: Studentship: Rolls-Royce Sponsored PhD Scholarship – Design and Manufacturing of Soft Robots for Performing On-Wing Inspection of Aero-Engines
Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology
The growing field of soft robotics has unlocked new possibilities for robotic systems to navigate uncertain and dynamic environments, including narrow spaces and interactions with unfamiliar objects.
This project aligns with Rolls-Royce’s technical needs for developing soft robotic solutions to enable in-situ/on-wing repair and maintenance of gas turbine engines. Applicants are invited to undertake a fully funded three-year PhD programme in partnership with Rolls-Royce to address key challenges in soft robotics for locomotion and manipulation in confined spaces. The successful candidate will be based at the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology at the University of Nottingham.
Deadline : 01 April 2026
(04) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: Modelling Reliability and Resilience of Hydrogen Systems for Improved Safety and Sustainability
The proposed project aims to develop a comprehensive modelling and analysis approach for hydrogen systems, such as electrolysers and their BoP systems, in meeting some of the below challenges in:
- advanced diagnostics and prognostics of early deterioration and failure modes,
- system-level reliability analysis models for improved safety,
- asset management models for supporting inspection and maintenance decisions, and
- improved system adaptability and enhanced emergency response mechanisms due to failures and external disturbances.
This exciting opportunity which could bring potential improvements in safety and efficiency using the proposed analysis tools can be expected to increase the uptake of hydrogen energy solutions, leading to reduction in carbon emissions.
Deadline : 25 January 2026
(05) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: Modelling Resilience of Water Distribution Networks
Aim: To develop an modelling approach for assessing water network resilience
One of the essential networks for society is water distribution networks. The delivery of water to the customers is affected through different threats to the system. These include: failure of components in the system, which are accelerated through the aging of the infrastructure; climate change, due to changing weather conditions and environmental factors impacting on the system; and deliberate planned acts, such as targeted terrorist activities.
This exciting project will focus on developing a mathematical model (and a supporting research software) to predict the key performance indicators of a water network, when links in the network are fully or partially failed. It will investigate the impact of the different threat types and identify the critical links in the network, which most affect the network performance. Resilience evaluation will consist of proposing a method for the best use of resource allocation, which will make water networks robust and resilient to these threats.
Deadline : 25 January 2026
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(06) PhD Positions- Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: Low-emission Ammonia Combustion through Smart Material Design
Ammonia is an essential component of the global strategy to achieve net-zero emissions. As a carbon-free fuel, it holds great promise for decarbonising energy-intensive sectors such as power generation and shipping. However, its practical use in combustion systems remains limited by two challenges: poor reactivity and undesirable nitrogen emission. Due to its high ignition temperature and substantial activation energy, ammonia is difficult to ignite and sustain combustion in conventional systems. Meanwhile, nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxides can form in significant quantities. Existing strategies such as fuel blending, catalytic combustion, or post-combustion treatment often face trade-offs between efficiency, cost, and emission control. To fully realise ammonia’s potential as a clean energy carrier, a fundamental rethinking of the combustion process is needed.
This PhD project will investigate low-NOₓ and low-N₂O route ammonia utilisation through advanced catalytic material design. In this interdisciplinary research, you will not only benefit from the expertise from University of Nottingham but also work closely with collaborators at e.g. University of Cambridge, Newcastle University.
Deadline : 15 January 2026
(07) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: Developing Next-Generation Laser Technologies for Advanced Materials
This project will develop an innovative co-axial water-mist-assisted high-power laser processing system. It will involve design, simulation, prototyping, and experimentation utilising a newly developed nozzle assembly.
Laser-based manufacturing is used across industries ranging from motorsports to space. However, advanced materials such as ceramics, composites, and coated alloys often have low thermal conductivity or internal interfaces that introduce unique thermally induced damage mechanisms.
This project utilises a precisely controlled mist film to minimise thermally induced damage, enabling efficient processing of advanced materials.
As a PhD student, you will work with academics from the Advanced Materials Research Group, University of Nottingham, supported by their state-of-the-art materials characterisation facilities. You will also work with the Laser Processing Group at the MTC, providing experience in working within in an industrial environment.
Deadline : 01 January 2026
(08) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: Collaboratory 2026 PhD Project
Caring for people living with dementia can be emotionally and physically demanding, especially when carers are unfamiliar with the specific challenges of the individuals they support. This research project aims to improve the experience of both carers and residents in Nottinghamshire care homes by developing personalised digital avatars. These avatars will represent realistic dementia care scenarios based on the unique needs and backgrounds of residents in each care home.
The project will work closely with carers, care home staff, residents’ families, and community organisations to co-design these avatars and training experiences. The goal is to create digital tools that help new or incoming carers feel better prepared for the specific behaviours, communication styles, and emotional needs they may encounter before they begin working in a particular care home.
A key focus of this project is ensuring that the avatars reflect a wide range of cultural experiences and ways of expressing dementia, particularly those that may not be well understood in typical Western training models. For example, some residents may show signs of distress or confusion in ways shaped by their language, religion, or cultural background. By recognising and including these variations in avatar scenarios, the project aims to support more inclusive and culturally responsive dementia care.
Deadline : 30 November 2025
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(09) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: AI design of ultrathin lenses for compact imaging devices
The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham is seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated student who enjoys working as part of a team to undertake a PhD in the Optics and Photonics Research Group (OPG), supervised by Dr. Mitchell Kenney alongside collaborators within OPG and Life sciences.
(https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/optics-and-photonics-research-group/index.aspx).
The advent of the smart-phone has undoubtedly revolutionised portable imaging systems, but the need for smarter imaging capability grows with increased healthcare end-user and accessibility demands. Imaging is a crucially important aspect in many scientific fields, with it being of particular importance in life-sciences and biomedical imaging. Novel techniques, such as microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and light-field imaging allow users to gather more useful information with higher levels of details than ever imagined. However, lots of these advanced systems still rely on old technologies based on standard glass lenses and components which are bulky and have limited capabilities.
Deadline : 17 November 2025
(10) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Funded Studentship: Sustainable Aviation – Designing fuels for the future
Applications are invited to undertake a PhD programme, in partnership with Airbus, to address key challenges in ensuring adoption of sustainable approaches to fuel additives for aviation use. The successful candidate will be based in the Mechanical and Aerospace Systems research group (previously known as G2TRC) within the faculty of Engineering and will be part of a supportive team of 50 researchers, technicians, support staff and academics. The successful candidate will be working across Mechanical, Aerospace & Chemical Engineering and Chemistry. The faculties of Science and Engineering have a well-developed research support base including NET2Zero CDT, and EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Resilient Chemistry: Feedstock to Function.
Deadline : 31 October 2025
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(11) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: Rolls Royce sponsored PhD scholarship – Micromechanics and in-depth materials analysis of advanced aerospace materials upon the manufacturing process
Applications are invited to undertake a three-year PhD programme in partnership with industry to address key challenges in on-platform manufacturing engineering. The successful candidate will be based at the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing Technology and On-Wing Technology (https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/utc/index.aspx ) at the University of Nottingham. Having state-of-the-art purpose-built facilities, the UTC offers a world-class environment for the realisation of high-impact research projects.
The Rolls-Royce funded Studentship is the result of the expanding manufacturing activities sponsored at the Rolls-Royce UTC dealing with in-depth investigations of the response of advanced aerospace materials to various manufacturing operations in the scope of robust manufacture of safety-critical aero-engine components.
The project will deal with the micromechanics and in-depth materials analysis of advanced aerospace materials upon manufacturing operations to understand the materials’ response to the manufacturing process to efficiently support the manufacture of aerospace components. This will involve using a wide range of sophisticated testing and analysis techniques including not only the study of the conventional manufacturing process of advanced aerospace materials but also the state-of-the-art materials investigation such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and in-situ micromechanics
Deadline : 31 October 2025
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(12) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: Rolls-Royce sponsored PhD scholarship – Design and simulation of stiffness-adjustable robotic systems for performing on-wing repair of aero-engines
Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology
Applicants are invited to undertake a fully funded three-year PhD programme in partnership with industry to address key challenges in on-platform manufacturing engineering. The successful candidate will be based at the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology at the University of Nottingham.
This project aligns with Rolls-Royce’s technical needs to develop automated and hybrid tooling solutions for in-situ/on-wing repair and maintenance of gas turbine engines.
At the Rolls-Royce UTC, we have developed advanced robotic systems capable of navigating cramped and hazardous environments, performing inspection tasks, and carrying out active operations such as machining. These innovations are driven by the need to complete complex repairs without disassembling industrial installations.
By integrating these technologies, we aim to develop hybrid robotic systems that combine locomotion and manipulation capabilities. These systems will feature both hexapod and continuum arm sub-systems, allowing them to navigate confined spaces and perform precision tasks using specialized end effectors (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_CTqVFJ7Jc).
At the Rolls-Royce UTC, we have a unique capability to design, model, and develop robotic systems tailored for operations in restrictive environments. This project will build upon our research and industrial successes, focusing on developing control solutions for automated robotic systems that can be teleoperated using intuitive human-machine interfaces.
Deadline : 31 October 2025
(13) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: Rolls-Royce Sponsored PhD Scholarship – Intelligent Sensing and Robot Control for Performing On-Wing Inspection and Repair of Aero-Engines
Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in manufacturing and On-Wing Technology, The University of Nottingham.
Applicants are invited to undertake a three-year PhD programme in partnership with industry to address key challenges in on-platform manufacturing engineering. The successful candidate will be based at The Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology at the University of Nottingham.
This project is in relation to the technical needs of Rolls-Royce to develop smart and robotic solutions to enable in-situ/on-wing repair and maintenance of gas turbine engines.
At the Rolls-Royce UTC at the University of Nottingham, we have developed robotic systems capable of navigating into crammed/hazardous environments and perform inspection and active operations such as machining. This is driven by the need to complete repair tasks without disassembly of industrial installations. We developed a series of continuum robots in both short and long versions.
Deadline : 31 October 2025
(14) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: Rolls-Royce sponsored PhD scholarship – Laser Beam Processing of Aerospace Materials
Applications are invited to undertake a three-year PhD programme in partnership with industry to address key challenges in manufacturing engineering. The successful candidate will be based at the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology at the University of Nottingham.
We are seeking applicants for an anticipated October 2025 start, or earlier (depending on the candidate availability), on a project with Rolls-Royce plc. The Rolls-Royce funded studentship is the result of expanding its on-platform repair activities sponsored at the Rolls-Royce UTC dealing with investigations on the development of bespoke high-tech laser beam processing methods for surface treatment and repair of aero-engine components.
The project will deal with the study of a new laser processing method to enable in-situ surface treatment and repair of safety-critical rotating parts and further understand the correlation between surface quality, metallurgical characteristics and functional performance of the components and the key process parameters. The project will deal with the design of special process setups, testing its working principles and performances followed by an assessment of the part quality; this will involve the development of laser beam processing on specific aerospace materials, and a model to understand the fundamental mechanisms of the process to identify optimal operating conditions and followed by surface analysis techniques (e.g. Scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction for residual stress measurements, Electron Back-Scattered Diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscopy).
Deadline : 31 October 2025
(15) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: Rolls-Royce sponsored PhD scholarship – Mechatronics system for hybrid manufacturing processing
Applicants are invited to undertake a three-year PhD programme in partnership with industry to address key challenges in on-platform manufacturing engineering. The successful candidate will be based at the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology at the University of Nottingham.
At the Rolls-Royce UTC, we are developing the next generation of robots and its sensing solutions to perform tasks in challenging working environments.
This project is related to the development of smart mechanisms and sensing to support the aforementioned tasks with the following actions:
- Develop the principles and theories for governing the scalability principles for building innovative robotics end-effectors that can access geometrically complex workspaces under positional restrictions.
- Develop smart control algorithms that will allow the robotics end-effectors to communicate with the central control system and coordinate tasks with other end-effectors and the host robot.
- Smart sensing systems to support automated manufacturing and maintenance, repair & overhaul. We refer here not only to conventional sensing, e.g. vision, orientation, that are commonly integrated into the end-effectors, but on advanced (e.g. tactile, sound-based, shape) solutions that enhance the perception of the end-effectors so that versatile tasks can be performed.
Deadline : 31 October 2025
(16) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: Next-Generation Functional Thin-Film Materials for Clean Energy and Net Zero Propulsion
This 3.5-year PhD studentship is open to Home (UK) applicants and EU students with settled status. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26; subject to annual uplift) plus home tuition fees will be paid.
We recommend that you apply early, as the advert will be removed once the position has been filled.
Do you want to be at the heart of the clean energy revolution? This PhD project gives you the chance to design and build the novel materials that could make hydrogen-powered aircraft, electric cars and renewable energy systems safer, more efficient and more powerful.
You will work on creating multilayer ceramic coatings made from aluminium nitride (AlN) and boron nitride (BN). These high-tech materials will be designed for two game-changing applications:
1. High-performance electrical insulation for next-generation electric machines and power electronics used in transport and energy systems.
2. Hydrogen permeation barrier coatings for nuclear fusion and hydrogen energy applications.
Deadline : 30 October 2025
(17) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD studentship: Waste to Medicine
This highly interdisciplinary 4-year funded PhD studentship will contribute to cutting-edge advancements in automated drug discovery and bio-instructive material manufacture. The project aims to utilise flower waste as a sustainable feedstock to discover new bioactive small molecules, then encapsulate and embed these molecules into well-defined, injectable microparticles. This is one example of next-generation therapeutics, with a sustained and controlled drug release over a prolonged period, enabling a more stable and efficacious drug delivery over conventionally dosed medicine.
This work integrates high data-density reaction/bioanalysis techniques, laboratory automation & robotics and machine learning. The project involves the application of innovative methods such as high-throughput experimentation to expediate the syntheses of life-saving pharmaceuticals – all from sustainable waste streams. This project will help to make a substantial difference towards automated drug discovery and helping to reduce suffering worldwide.
This joint studentship is part of the strategic global partnership between University of Nottingham and Adelaide University. As part of the project, you will spend one year at Adelaide University and three years at the University of Nottingham. The research will be conducted using state-of-the-art equipment, including both commercial tools and bespoke in-house apparatus, in collaboration with Dr Adam Dundas and Dr Parimala Shivaprasad. As a key member of our teams, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the frontiers of sustainable drug discovery and delivery.
Deadline : 21 November 2025
(18) PhD Positions – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: PhD Studentship: Machine Learning for Probabilistic Modelling of Non-equilibrium Time Series Beyond the Markovian Paradigm
The overarching aim of this project is to find synergies between methods and ideas of modern machine learning and of statistical mechanics for the study of stochastic dynamics with application to the analysis of time series. In particular, the project will examine and develop methods that go beyond the Markovian paradigm. It will consider a range of time series data, focusing on those that show challenging properties of uncertainty, irregularity and mixed-modality. It will examine a range of models and techniques that go beyond Markovian approaches, including state-space models, tensor networks, and machine learning frameworks such as recurrent neural networks and transformers. Models and datasets will be studied and benchmarked in key tasks relating to both prediction/forecasting and anomaly detection. Comparison with known analytic methods and established Markov models will be made wherever possible. Expected outcomes include a unified non-Markovian framework for time series analysis, a suite of relevant datasets, and large-scale statistical studies comparing different methods. The successful candidate will be jointly supervised by: Dr Edward Gillman (https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/physics/people/edward.gillman) and Professor Juan P. Garrahan (https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/physics/people/juan.garrahan)
Deadline : Open until filled
About The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England –Official Website
The University of Nottingham is a public research university in Nottingham, England. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. The University of Nottingham belongs to the research intensive Russell Group association.
Nottingham’s main campus (University Park) with Jubilee Campus and teaching hospital (Queen’s Medical Centre) are located within the City of Nottingham, with a number of smaller campuses and sites elsewhere in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Outside the UK, the university has campuses in Semenyih, Malaysia, and Ningbo, China. Nottingham is organised into five constituent faculties, within which there are more than 50 schools, departments, institutes and research centres. Nottingham has more than 46,000 students and 7,000 staff across the UK, China and Malaysia and had an income of £792.2 million in 2021–22, of which £131.4 million was from research grants and contracts. The institution’s alumni have been awarded one Nobel Prize, a Fields Medal, and a Gabor Medal and Prize. The university is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the European University Association, the Russell Group, Universitas 21, Universities UK, the Virgo Consortium, and participates in the Sutton Trust Summer School programme as a member of the Sutton 30
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