Explore our current postgraduate research degree and PhD opportunities.
A fully-funded PhD studentship in materials chemistry at the University of Southampton is available under the supervision of Dr Geoffrey Hyett and Prof Gill Reid in collaboration with Pilkington NSG. The project will investigate the synthesis of mixed anion thin films for transparent conductor applications. It will involve the synthesis and characterisation of novel molecular precursors to deliver the required elemental compositions and phases and make use of a range of thin film deposition techniques, including low-pressure and aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition and sol gel dip-coating.
At the heart of Dyson products, such as vacuum cleaners, hair dryers and hand dryers, is an efficient high-speed fan for providing high flow rates at large pressure. However, like most fans they are also noisy. This project is predominantly an experimental study into the investigation into the mechanisms of noise generation from this latest generation of high-speed fans. Particular emphasis will be given to ‘installation effects’ on the noise. Compared to their uninstalled levels, their noise is known to increase once installed in the machine. This is because air passing through the fan, after flowing through the machine, becomes disorted and turbulent.
Design and understanding of nonlinear models is required for optimal performance and for accurate reproduction of dynamical behavior. One of the intriguing phenomenona in nonlinear systems is Targeted Energy Transfer (TET), where the goal is to transfer energy within a nonlinear system between subsystems.
If you enjoy numerical modelling and are you interested in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to engineering problems, this may be the right project for you.
The PhD student will address directly the major gap in understanding aimed at enabling the design and development of efficient and quiet future multi-rotor propulsion systems. This project describes detailed flow and noise measurements in state-of-the-art facilities to gain a fundamental understanding into the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of overlapping propeller systems.
Emissions from internal combustion engines (ICE) continue to have a major impact on climate change and health issues worldwide.
Large civil aircraft experience extreme loads during turbulence and gusts. It is a big challenge to avoid clear-air turbulence (CAT). The implications of sudden erratic turbulence on the aerodynamic characteristics of a subsonic wing in the troposphere and lower stratosphere have not been investigated enough. There is little research into how turbulent eddies generated by the terrain that surrounds an airport located in a valley would interact with a climbing or descending aircraft.
We have now run into a fast-evolving but more uncertain world. This includes fast-developing urban environments where most of the population lives. It is crucial that we are able to predict in time street airflows, concentration of pollutants, chemicals and pathogens, to respond promptly and to be more resilient.