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PhD opportunities: Engineering

Compare 13 doctoral research opportunities connected with Engineering, including project summaries, funding and application deadlines.

Engineering

Optimisation of Light Sources

University of Leeds

About the Project This fully funded PhD position will reward the successful candidate with an award covering full fees, a maintenance stipend in line with UKRI rates, and a Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC) grant worth 10,000 GBP for personal development and consumables. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to join the PGR community in the School of Design and access training and support for their specialism.

Location
Leeds, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
30 September 2026
Funding
Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Engineering

The feasibility of the improving fit, comfort and functionality of mounted police personal protective equipment (PPE) (HHS-2026-04)

University of Huddersfield

About the Project This project will evaluate how standard riding equipment, on-duty equipment, and public order personal protective equipment (PPE) influence the comfort, mobility, posture, task performance, and safety of mounted police officers. Mounted officers are required to perform physically demanding tasks while maintaining control of the horse, communicating with colleagues, and responding to unpredictable operational environments.

Location
Huddersfield, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
30 October 2026
Funding
Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Engineering

PhD Studentship: Materials-reinforced multifunctional coatings for built environments

University of Exeter

About the Project Porous construction materials, such as concrete, brick, or wood, are widely utilised in built environments due to their structural strength, durability, and thermal mass. However, their susceptibility to water ingress can lead to issues such as surface degradation, internal cracking, frost damage, and biological colonisation.

Location
Devon, Exeter, United Kingdom
Deadline
2 November 2026
Funding
UK Students; UK tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of at least £21,805 per year

Engineering

Functional surfaces for friction reduction and improved durability of mechanical watch movements

Manchester Metropolitan University

About the Project Project advert This PhD project will explore how advanced surface coatings can reduce friction and improve the long-term durability of mechanical watch movements. Today, even high-quality watches usually require servicing every few years because lubricants degrade and wear debris accumulates.

Location
Manchester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
13 November 2026
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Engineering

3D forming of cellulosic biopolymer materials using electrohydrodynamic atomisation

Edinburgh Napier University

About the Project Three-dimensional forming refers to the fabrication of structure through layer-by-layer deposition of material using a printer head, a nozzle or other printing techniques. It is broadly used in applications including automobile manufacturing, aerospace manufacturing and medical applications.

Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Engineering

Adoption of proprietary home and community automation technologies in support of ageing-in-place

University of Worcester

About the Project This PhD study will investigate the adoption of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) automation technologies used in the home or in the community by people affected by dementia. Technology has the potential to impact significantly on the health and wellbeing of people affected by dementia not least in reducing social isolation and opening opportunities for engaging in life, learning and leisure.

Location
Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Engineering

Integration of Advanced Multi-Modal Sensors into ROV Platforms for Autonomous Marine Pollution Monitoring

Edinburgh Napier University

About the Project The proposed PhD will focus on the design, integration, and validation of advanced sensor technologies into Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for autonomous marine pollution monitoring. Building on recent innovations in microfluidic sampling, optical sensors, and electrochemical detection, the candidate will develop a modular sensor integration framework capable of operating in diverse aquatic environments.

Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Engineering

Intelligent Metamaterials/Metasurfaces for 5G/6G Wireless Networks

Edinburgh Napier University

About the Project Background and Motivation: Within the framework of 5G/6G infrastructure, advancements in network architectures and service integration are enabling emerging technologies such as Intelligent Metamaterials and Metasurface antenna systems. These systems can dynamically manipulate electromagnetic waves to enhance connectivity, sensing, and adaptive coverage within smart radio environments.

Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Engineering

Modelling of microbial induced hydrogen loss for underground hydrogen storage

Edinburgh Napier University

About the Project Hydrogen is identified to play a key role in the UK’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. To meet this target, the UK needs hydrogen storage capacity of at least 15 TWh (~ 450k tonnes) meet short-term and seasonal supply and demand variability. Currently, the UK only has one hydrogen storage facility in Teesside, with a capacity of ~30 GWh (0.9k tonnes of hydrogen) in salt caverns.

Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Engineering

Next-Generation Functional Thin-Film Materials for Clean Energy and Net Zero Propulsion - ENG 281

University of Nottingham

About the Project 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.

Location
Nottingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Engineering

Real-time forecasting PV output using novel Machine Learning

Edinburgh Napier University

About the Project The rapid proliferation of wind and solar installations, coupled with the growing impact of climate change on the volatile UK weather, creates formidable operable challenges for the UK electricity Grid. To balance the supply and demand of the electricity system, the National Grid is required to take proactive actions to curtail variable renewable energy (VRE) generation.

Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Engineering

Reconfigurable Surfaces for High-Efficiency RF Energy Harvesting

Edinburgh Napier University

About the Project Background and Motivation: The increasing demand for sustainable and maintenance-free wireless technologies has accelerated interest in radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting, which converts electromagnetic waves into usable electrical power. This approach supports energy-autonomous IoT networks, sensors, and smart infrastructure.

Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Engineering

Using AI to improve the accessibility and mobility of people living in rural areas: An intelligent demand-responsive service

Edinburgh Napier University

About the Project Improving rural accessibility, reducing car dependency, and tackling climate change have been central themes in transport research for decades. Yet, private cars remain the dominant mode of travel in rural areas, largely due to the limited reliability and efficiency of available public transport. Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) has long been presented as a flexible alternative to conventional services, but its potential has never been fully realised.

Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only