Materials Engineering: Fully Funded SU/ Rolls-Royce PhD Studentship: Mechanism

MECHANISM will advance our fundamental knowledge of the in-service operation, processing characteristics and mechanical/physical behavioural response of advanced structural materials within extreme environments as well as continuing to develop step-change advances in viable alloy and composite compositions. The resulting techniques and understanding will enable the sustainable life-cycle of advanced materials, supporting design (digitally enabled), repair (aftermarket) and advanced manufacturing technologies, whilst supporting more efficient and environmentally friendly power systems into the future, reducing the impact of carbon technologies where possible. This fundamental life-cycle understanding is a key enabler to maintain competitiveness for UK power systems in the highly competitive international market, recognising the growing interest in new transportation technologies such as electrification, hybrid power systems, marine, and land-based freight. These goals will be delivered through a research-driven understanding of the fundamental mechanical properties of these advanced structural materials which will operate in highly demanding stress and environments throughout their life cycle.  

This research is driven by the necessity to understand the underlying scientific principles of advanced structural materials whilst creating a platform for knowledge exchange across the Rolls-Royce group (including civil aerospace, defence and submarines); a forum that is currently lacking. Such an initiative will enable solutions derived from one sector to be disseminated across the business to advance overall knowledge.  

Across this field, there are multiple fundamental, scientific challenges to overcome, including but not limited to: mechanical and physical behaviour of materials, effects of environment upon corrosive behaviour, wear and fatigue, plastic deformation, crack growth behaviour over a range of temperatures, fundamental understanding of metallurgical properties required to enable repair, characterisation of the anisotropic response of composite systems, and material processing (including novel additive manufacture). These challenges are highly complex, and the relative experience and track record of previous materials research is essential to underpin and deliver successful outcomes.    

Funding Comment

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26). 

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available. 

Closing Date: 05 May 2025

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