Current research degree projects
Explore our current postgraduate research degree and PhD opportunities.
277 research degree projects
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Engineering
Development of electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry for spacecraft missions
This project will pioneer space-ready electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry to detect biosignatures in the Solar system. Combining spacecraft propulsion electrospray techniques with flight-proven miniaturised mass spectrometers, the project develop cutting edge electrospray mass spectrometry techniques through a unique collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) mission heritage. -
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Decarbonisation of the maritime sector: understanding the generation of natural hydrogen
As the need to decarbonise transportation, especially the maritime sector, intensifies, there is growing interest in hydrogen energy. Geological seeps of Natural Hydrogen have been known for decades but regarded as curiosities. The aim of this project is to understand more about the underlying chemistry responsible for the formation of this low cost and energy efficient source of hydrogen. -
Engineering
Aero-optics of high-speed flow
Supersonic and hypersonic flows contain density fluctuations that affect the performance of optical sensors, including non-intrusive flow measurement. An additional feature is the challenging aerothermodynamic environment with extreme surface heating. On this project you'll use scale-resolving numerical simulation to understand the flow physics and develop new prediction methods. -
Engineering
Turbulent boundary layer noise
Noise production by turbulent boundary layers is an important practical problem that remains a challenge for prediction methods. On this industry-supported project you'll apply new techniques of large-scale numerical simulation and machine learning to understand the flow physics and develop new prediction methods. -
Engineering
Developing and testing new sensors for characterising ocean carbon dioxide uptake
Oceans are critical to the changing climate, having absorbed a third of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide; hence monitoring ocean uptake is essential for understanding, modelling, and mitigating climate change. This project looks to develop and test novel sensors to do so, based on droplet microfluidic technology. -
Engineering
Making nanoscale materials: precision fabrication of high-performance functional structures
This project focuses on exploring high-precision lithographic fabrication techniques for the development of multifunctional material structures at the nanoscale, with applications in wireless energy and information transfer, and in biomedicine. -
Electronics and Computer Science
Microfluidic gel electrophoresis of very long DNA to enable long-read sequencing for genomic medicine
This project will reimagine gel electrophoresis into an innovative engineered microfluidic system, tailored to match the latest long-read sequencing methods for genomic medicine and health data science. By shrinking a decades-old method, that remains essential to DNA analysis, we will enable faster, higher quality genomic analysis. -
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
New dimensions in analytical chemistry: greater insights into complex samples
Traditional analytical methods are often overwhelmed by complex samples. In partnership with your supervisors and LECO Instruments UK Ltd, you'll develop new analytical methods, on world-leading comprehensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCxGC-MS) instrumentation, providing greater insights and helping to address challenges in a range of academic and industrial sectors. -
Engineering
A simulation-based multi-objective optimisation framework for healthier UK housing
This project aims to understand how simulation approaches and other experimental modelling can be used to optimise building performance in relation to user health, comfort, and environmental sustainability. It will also establish reliable methods for validating the results and enhance the standing of computational building physics methods in finding robust architectural design for housing. -
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
MXenes for toxic metal sampling, sensing, and removal from marine environments
This project will harness MXenes, cutting-edge two-dimensional materials, to create powerful new technologies for detecting and removing these pollutants, with the goal of developing MXene-based prototypes for use in real-life conditions.