Ceramics
The University of Manchester
About the Project As the aviation and power generation sectors move towards decarbonisation, gas turbine manufacturers are developing hydrogen-fuelled engines. However, burning hydrogen produces nearly three times more high-velocity steam than conventional fuels such as kerosene, creating new environmental challenges for protective coatings on turbine components.
- Location
- Manchester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
Ceramics
University College London
About the Project PhD Opportunity: Crystal growth and neutron scattering of functional materials (UCL Crystal Growth Laboratory @ Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus) Modern technologies increasingly rely on “functional materials” whose performance is set by how electrons, ions, and heat move through a crystal lattice.
- Location
- London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- See advert
Ceramics
University of Bristol
About the Project Supervisor: Dr Harry Sansom Start Date: From September 2026 Are you excited by discovery, motivated by real‑world impact, and keen to work at the forefront of functional materials research? This PhD offers the chance to help shape an emerging class of high‑performance, lead‑free piezoelectrics - materials with the potential to transform sensing, actuation, energy harvesting, and next‑generation device technologies.
- Location
- Bristol, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)
Ceramics
University of Reading
About the Project We have a vacancy for a PhD student to join a project at the forefront of research in thermoelectric materials, which can be used in devices for the direct conversion of waste heat into electrical power.
- Location
- Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Ceramics
University of Liverpool
About the Project This project focuses on discovery of new functional materials for clean energy applications, through experimental synthesis and structure determination using advanced X‑ray and electron diffraction techniques. The student will relate structure to properties such as thermal conductivity and ion transport, working within a multidisciplinary team at Liverpool’s Materials Innovation Factory to develop strong experimental, communication and team-working skills.
- Location
- Liverpool, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
Ceramics
University of St Andrews
About the Project In the Baker group we are always looking for excellent, well-motivated scientists to carry out PhD research with us. Our main activities relate to the preparation of nanostructured and functional materials for applications as active components in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), heterogeneous catalysts and photocatalysts.
- Location
- St Andrews, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Ceramics
University of Birmingham
About the Project Traditional Ox/Ox Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) do not apply a fibre coating, instead they rely on a high porosity ‘weak matrix’ to deflect cracks and improve toughness. However, this strategy can result in poor matrix-dominated properties, such as through-thickness thermal conductivity and interlaminar shear strength. ‘Weak interphase’ Ox/Ox CMCs are of potential interest to retain the desirable features of oxide systems (e.g.
- Location
- Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)